Minor flooding

[Dead Dogs]

First ever forum post.

Just brought a place in Caithness, moved up here due to work. Yesterday it turned warm and rained a little. This caused all the snow that had been sitting on the fields around my place to melt. The burn that flows alongside filled to almost overflowing. Trouble is so did parts of the garden, right where I intend to put a polytunnel and veggie patch.

The question I have for you knowledgeable lot is; would the occasional flooding / waterlogged ground be a major problem?

[Jeanied]

Welcome to the vine DD (shudder at the name though!) - I think you will need to chat to your neigbours and find if the area is prone to flooding or not. This year was pretty exceptional. If it only floods in the winter then you can grow annual veg there - but you will need to beef up the nutrient levels in your soil which will have leeched out with the flood. How flooded did it get? It could be that raised beds are your answer. Just musing here!

[COMPOST CORNER]

I'd have thought the flooding could improve the fertility if it dumps a load of alluvial silt on the ground.
Could be a good thing if it only happens in winter.

[weekendwellies]

Welcome to the vine DD.
If the flooding is occasional and limited it should be ok. You will just need to plan around it a bit.
Sounds like it wont be bringing anything bad with it in the way of toxins. It may even benefit your ground.

[Glutton4...]

Hi and welcome. I gather the name refers to the two lazy blighters in your Avatar?

Now you know how and where it floods, your best bet (and I'm no expert) would be to sort out drainage this first year. Dig some french drains in the flood area, and grow your crops in raised beds in the worst parts. You could channel the water to the dry areas, if you have any dry areas, that is! Use any soil you excavate, as the basis for starting your raised beds. You'll probably need to add manure to improve the quality, but it should save you money importing topsoil.

Good luck with it, and remember; we're nosey and we like pictures!

[Dead Dogs]

The name comes from the titel I gave the photo on my two German Shepards lying out as if they were 'Two Dead Dogs'. Rested asured they are both alive and kicking.

I think the flooding was due to all the snow melting in about 12 hours. Garden not flooded when I went to work, with some snow still about. Garden looking like the tide had come in mid day and gone again when I got home. My other half took a photo for me.

Although the ground is still water logged, the burn's level is well below that of the garden. I'm hope that once I start working the ground, then it will drain better. But will over wintering crops be OK if it happens again?

[Dead Dogs]

Photos of flooded area.

[Glutton4...]

Nice walls DD.

You could always make it a swimming pool!

[Creemteez]

Hi DD - welcome onto the vine.
If the flooding came and went as quickly as you say, and has not been repeated, it shouldn't be an insurmountable problem. As per the other grapes' suggestions, extra drainage and raised beds should help. I would suggest choosing the driest area of the plot for overwintering, although if you are planning a crop rotation system this may only work the first year. Ya pays ya money, ya takes ya choice in this game, I'm afraid. Would probably be worth having a chat with any neighbours (Though from your picture it doesn't look as if you have many!), to see what their experience of flooding gardens is.
(Lovely "dead" dogs, by the way)
Teez

[Snadger]

It is probably just compaction that is stopping it draining away quicker.

Once the soil is worked the compaction should go.

[Jeanied]

From your photo it looks like your garden is part of a flood plain. I think you can find out about this online using your postcode. (Environment Agency springs to mind). This may well happen on a regular basis. You need to know before you start your plan of attack!