9" of Rain and a Muddy, Stinky, Mess of a Run...Any Advice?

[aart]

Will this work in a garden? Ours is a swamp. I need something to dry out the area in between the mounds where the plants are.

Is it always a swamp.... or just from recent downpours?
If just recent I'd let it dry out on it's own.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Will this work in a garden? Ours is a swamp. I need something to dry out the area in between the mounds where the plants are.

Yes, they would help but they would also change the soil composition. I add stall dry and sweet pdz to my cactus and succulent soil to increase drainage and aeration, but for a garden stepping stones or bark might be better. Bark will break down naturally in the soil, unlike pumice and zeolite which are like very tiny lava rocks.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

We have been getting tons of rain as well. My coop and run has good drainage, but the ground is still soggy all the time, since the rain hasn't let up for more than a few hours at a time for weeks. I keep adding dry leaves (I collected a bunch on a dry day) and pine needles. We haven't been able to mow, due to the rain, so once we get a dry day, we will have tons of grass clippings. The leaves and pine needles really help with the mud though. I am going to get some wood chips eventually, but until then it is leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings.

 

[citykitty]

Is it always a swamp.... or just from recent downpours?
If just recent I'd let it dry out on it's own.

Good question. We just built a house and this is our first garden on this property. I'm leaning toward it always being pretty wet.

 

[Cryss]

Will this work in a garden? Ours is a swamp. I need something to dry out the area in between the mounds where the plants are.

Fresh wood chips work wonderfully in the garden. The green bits decompose quickly and leach down to the soil feeding it while the wood chips themselves absorb excess water which it will release into the soil when it becomes too dry. Marvelous stuff wood chips.

 

[aart]

Good question. We just built a house and this is our first garden on this property. I'm leaning toward it always being pretty wet.

Hmm...well, time will tell.
Friend of mine gardens on soggy land, can be great for some plants, not so much for others.

Fresh wood chips work wonderfully in the garden. The green bits decompose quickly and leach down to the soil feeding it while the wood chips themselves absorb excess water which it will release into the soil when it becomes too dry. Marvelous stuff wood chips.

Good for paths or mulch, but not mixed into the soil as they can suck up the nitrogen making it unavailable to the plants.

 

[True Patriot]

Has anyone tried a gravel bed under the DL? Gravel covered with erosion control cloth is a standard go to in construction for water control. Especially if used in conjunction with some drain field pipe.

 

[JurassicChicken]

Follow up question...what do you do about the swarms of flies that appeared with the mud? We've had flies before, but not to this extent.

Today was nice and sunny which helped to dry out the mud to some extent, but then we had a gully washer thunderstorm about six. The weather forecast for next week is dry and cooler with no mention of rain for several days, so I hope to be finished with this project in a few days. Thank you again for the great advice you all have shared.

 

[Cryss]

No no no I didn't mean worked into the dirt! Never! The chips should lay on top of the soil. Green stuff like clippings can be tossed on top cuz they will decompose quickly making "instant compost tea" when it rains. Weed seeds falling on top can't germinate cuz they can't reach the soil so they die and make tea too. But no, dont till chips into the soil! It's a covering, not a growth medium.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Follow up question...what do you do about the swarms of flies that appeared with the mud? We've had flies before, but not to this extent.

Today was nice and sunny which helped to dry out the mud to some extent, but then we had a gully washer thunderstorm about six. The weather forecast for next week is dry and cooler with no mention of rain for several days, so I hope to be finished with this project in a few days. Thank you again for the great advice you all have shared.

We have had issues with gnats more than flies with all the rain. I put a flypaper strip at the top of the coop where the chickens can't get to it. I also put some fresh herbs in the nesting box (mint, thyme, basil). It isn't 100 percent effective but I have seen a reduction in the number of gnats. Smells fresher which helps, too.