New but very wet allotment

[Blueberri]

Hi everyone, I got an allotment just before Christmas but it is very wet, there are reeds etc growing on it as well as the usual weeds/brambles. Can anyone suggest ways of improving the soil or will it dry out as it's cultivated?

[veggiechicken]

Are nearby plots also marshy?
Where are you located?

[Guest]

Silly question, do you possibly have a hidden/ overgrown pond in there?

[Snadger]

Reeds are usually indicative of wet acid soil.

[Dalrimple]

if push comes to shove you can dig a well in the damp area !save carting water about .atb Dal.

[Nicos]

Hi there....many congrats on the new plot!

We used to have a very wet and boggy peat plot a few years back.
After several attempts at trying to alter the soil we found the easiest way was creating raised beds.

You might consider digging a trench to help it drain and infilling it with stones, but that may affect another plot by increasing their flooding.

A shallow well might be a useful alternative... especially during a dry summer!

[Chestnut]

Congratulations on your new plot!

It is definitely worth checking if you have a pond, particularly if the reeds are all in one area.
We discovered our pond on the third day of clearing, and a 3 foot wide brick path appeared a couple of weeks later, so I know that thick undergrowth can hide lots of things....

If it is that the whole plot is wet, then try to have a look at a bit of soil to see whether it is clay underneath? Or ask one of your neighbours what type of soil they have
If there is no one about, these websites may help
Soilscapes soil types viewer - National Soil Resources Institute. Cranfield University
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=179

If you have heavy clay like we have at home (allotment has more favourable subsoil!) the general advice seems to be to avoid walking on it in wet weather as this can compact the soil and make drainage worse, add lots of organic matter for the worms to improve the soil, and make raised beds for anything which doesn’t like wet feet/roots.

Let us know what you find

[Blueberri]

I haven't seen a pond as yet, a few of the other plots have bits of reeds but not to the same extent. Had a look round today and couldn't see any pond there are a few drainage channels dug I think I'll need to do a few more, there is a stream 100 or so metres downhill. Think I might dig drainage channels to the lowest part of the allotment and put a pond in there. To be fair it hasn't been the dryest weather recently

[veggiechicken]

Everywhere's wet at the moment but reeds don't grow overnight.
Can you put some photos up so we can have a look? Maybe someone can suggest ways to deal with it.