Troubled soil!

I am living in England at the moment, and as you guessesd it is very wet. This year we have had heavy rain and it has turned my soil into mush. Last year we had new turf laid and it was beautiful. Will my new plants be in trouble or what should I do about it. Also, my dog keeps urinating on my flowers after I plant them. Is there a solution to him doing this?

I would think most of your plants will be fine, as long as you are growing things that will typically do well in your area. If you are trying to grow plants native to drier climates some of them may not appreciate the extra water, but my guess would be most of your garden will be just fine. As far as the dog--is he actually going into the garden, or are the plants right on the edge between the lawn and the garden bed? If he's going all the way into the garden, then a little 1' high edging around the border of the garden combined with some training might discourage him from going into the garden. If the plants are right on the edge though and he's not actually going into the garden beds, the best solution may be to move the plants a little farther back where he can't reach them.

If drainage is an issue, adding good quality compost to your garden to create a raised bed would be helpful - especially if you're growing one of my favorites... English lavender! :-)

Welcome to the UK, I really dont think you should be in in any panic just yet, we have all had eratic weather over the last few years here in the UK, we in Scotland have been lashed with high winds, wet and cold winter, however, in the past few years, England has had no rain at all come summer, with garden hose bans, I would speak to some neighbours and friends to find out when the water shortage usually starts, that way you will know which plants to give extra mulch to preserve moisture over the summer, I have read that the big Garden shows are already having bother due to the warmer winter this year and a lot if the plants have already flowered or will be too far gone by the time the shows are on, so if we amatures are worried, what must it be like for the experts eh. AS regards to your dog, the garden is also knew to him/her, it is a case of educating him, new plants mean he has to put his scent on them, that's what dogs do, it is up to you to go out into the garden with him to show him right from wrong or he will do the same everywhere, other gardeners might not be happy when the dog passes by or through, he will soon learn, so will you adapt to our ever changing climate, some days it feels like we are having four seasons all in the one day. good luck, enjoy your new garden.

Hi lovebeaglelady, welcome to the UK. WeeNel is right, the weather here has been very unpredictable over the past few years. I've actually had to be watering my garden this past month as it has been so dry. A good thing to do is talk to your neighbours - check out the ones whose gardens you admire and go and ask them which plants thrive best, what their soil is like, what they would recommend, what didn't work out - and where the best and cheapest local garden centre is! It's really helped me talking to my neighbours - I got lots of advice, and quite a few free plants too.