Grow Your Own Magazine

This weekend I've just covered the base of my greenhouse with gravel. Where the water table is high and the soil is clay, with all the rain, I've had a permanent puddle. The borders outside are fine (but we dug all the soil out when we moved in and replaced it with well rotted manure), but the greenhouse floor wasn't done and it wouldn't drain. The greenhouse is on one of the metal bases, so I've filled up to the top of that (about 4 inches). The idea is that the plant pots won't sit in water, in the summer the gravel will hopefully help retain moisture to up the humidity, and in the winter it will insulate the floor. Might not work that way, but it's got to be better than I had. Also son and OH were willing to cart the gravel, but not willing to dig out all the soil in the greenhouse in an attempt to get it to drain! It does look good, and I'm re-laying the slab path in the middle tomorrow, to get a bit of stability when I'm working in there. I always use pots, so not being able to plant in the border is not a problem.
As I had to move everything out, I took the opportunity to put alot of stuff into the garage, instead of the greenhouse. I told OH the greenhouse was for plants, not a shed. He retorted that the garage was supposed to be for the car! Well if he sorts out all his stuff, I'll do mine

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I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!

http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

Probably would have been better if you could have got the men of the family to dig out around six inches of soil and then fill with gravel, but it certainly sounds as if it will be better than it was. Good luck for the growing season.

Our garden is heavy clay and had a tendency to get waterlogged. We planted a few 'thirsty' plants to help drink the water (1 x golden willow, 2 x smaller willows). I think they have made a difference but don't know for sure. My greenhouse floor is also made from gravel, but the greenhouse is situated on the highest part of the slightly sloping garden. It has never been wet underfoot but I have wondered if the gravel contributes to the condensation inside. I just open the door first thing in the morning and keep the window open when temperatures allow.

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Julie

I have a paving path down the centre and gravel borders, it works well, drained in wet weather and the paving and gravel heat up during the day in winter and keep the temperatures up a little at night. It also means you can damp down in summer without worrying about turning the inside into a swamp, under the circumstances I reckon you've done the best thing.

I've used gravel, as I knew there was a risk of flooding in this part of the garden. In the winter, that's exactly what happened (filled up the heater with water, instead of paraffin ) but the gravel helped with drainage.

I think you've done exactly the right thing. Enjoy your greenhouse

i've just put shaile in the bottom of mine ( very small peices of slate ) to aid drainage and help with damping down in the summer , So i think you have done the right thing.
I'm of to fit guttering and auto vent today.

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---) CARL (----
ILFRACOMBE
NORTH DEVON

a seed planted today makes a meal tomorrow!

www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf

now in blog form ! UPDATED 01 / 04 / 08