We ve got a corner of the garden which is permanently wet even in summer. What can we do with it

A.� Have you considered creating a bog garden They can bring a new dimension to the average garden, allowing you to grow a lot of native and introduced species that would struggle in the average garden. They also add an informal feel, bridging the gap between different areas of the garden and will also act as a magnet for wildlife.

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A.� Hold on, there is usually some preparation work needed before you start planting. First off try and find the source of the water than is keeping the ground damp. If it is say an underground spring or the overflow from a water feature, you need to make sure that you do not divert it or block it in any way. Naturally occurring boggy areas may well be overrun with rushes and grasses. Although they have their place they need to be thinned right out either by repeated spraying with glysophate or by digging out. It is also worth creating optimum conditions by incorporating plenty of organic matter be it compost from the heap, leaf mould or used growbags.

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A.� Yes, you create one in any garden, although the amount of work involved will depend on what sort of soil you are on. Obviously a heavy clay soil will hold water naturally whereas if you have light and fell drained conditions a fair amount of construction work is going to be necessary. Placing one near an existing pond or water feature where water can be diverted onto the site is ideal.

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A.� If you are on heavy clay select a low-lying site where surface drainage will naturally collect. If the ground is prone to dry out in summer think about installing some drip irrigation hose which can be disguised, winding through the bog area and put it on a timer so water levels are topped up regularly without you having to do it physically yourself.

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A.� There is a huge choice of moisture loving plants available, and these are just a few suggestions. A visit to your local aquatic plant centre should yield many more. One tip: if you can plant while the garden is dry as planting in the wet often allows air pockets to form around the roots.

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Astilbes, cardamine (bittersweet) and hostas like wet conditions as do the lovely candelabra primrulas. The three feet high blooms of Filipendula ulmaria 'Flore Pleno' (meadowsweet) are sweetly scented and where you have space the Gunnera manicata, with its huge leaves, makes a wonderful architectural plant as are grasses from the carex and miscanthus families.

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