Slocker Hole!
Last post 25-02-2013 10:37 AM by Kay. 9 replies.
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03/02/2012 08:55 PM
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- Lin T
- Somerset
- 02 Feb 2012
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4
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Hi! I'm another newbie to the forum and am hoping you can help me please. We are renovating an old house with a large garden, complete with what the locals call a 'slocker hole' - this is a natural phenomenon, common on limestone. In this case it used to be a pond (50 years ago) but the water has found a way out and it now floods regularly (land drains from the field opposite drain into it). It only gets water for an hour or two after heavy rain but it can be up to about a foot deep at times. It is quite a large area, about 25ft by 50ft, surrounded by trees, so shady, and lots of fallen leaves. As it is right where the drive comes in (though fortunately away from the house) I would like to make it look nice, but low maintenance as the main garden is on the other side - and quite big enough for me to cope with! I don't want to cut down the trees, especially as they are necessary protection against the prevailing wind (we are near the top of a hill). Any ideas, please, as to what I could plant in it at the bottom? Ferns, bulbs and perennials on the sides would be good, but the bottom defeats me. Something that would take flooding but also some dry spells? So would rushes work? Many thanks in advance for any thoughts.
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04/02/2012 03:27 PM
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- Scott
- South Yorkshire
- 20 Oct 2010
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138
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Juncus effusus 'Spiralis'
Moisture loving plant, however, I have one in a pot that I always forgot to water in the summer.... Its still alive...
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04/02/2012 03:32 PM
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- Scott
- South Yorkshire
- 20 Oct 2010
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138
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Sorry for being ignorant, welcome to the forum.... Seeing as its quite a large area, some large architectural plants for the sides would be perfect... Gunnera manicata and Rheum palmatum would be ideal...
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05/02/2012 10:39 AM
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- Lin T
- Somerset
- 02 Feb 2012
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4
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Thank you! Yes, I'm definitely going to try Rheum, and possibly Gunnera (though maybe not as hardy) there is space for both separated by other things. I did not know of the Juncus 'corkscrew rush' and will certainly give it a try. I had been thinking of rushes and grasses, but most of them seem to need sun. One I fancy is Schoenoplectus lactustris (zebra spripes) but it also needs sun. The only thing that seems to grow in there at present is nettles - and I don't fancy them there! (we have a wildlife friendly area set aside). They are very satisfying to clear out, a good tug and great metre long roots just pull free. I have never had really good soil before so it's a real pleasure to do the weeding. Maybe I'll stick to two or three grasses/rushes in the wetter centre, with the Rheum and Gunnera towards the non-flood but wet edge and add some 'interest' round the sides. Thanks again for your response
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05/02/2012 07:04 PM
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- Snark
- Suffolk
- 12 Jan 2011
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281
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What about SkunkCabbage (Lysichiton Americanum I think) sounds an awful name but big cheery yellow spathes and I've seen it growing in shade.
For the Snark was a boojum you see
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05/02/2012 10:12 PM
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- Lin T
- Somerset
- 02 Feb 2012
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4
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Hi Snark - yes I had wondered about skunk cabbage but read somewhere that it is invasive. Also thought of himalayan balsam, also invasive. Should I be giving garden room to something invasive? Mind you, anything growing down in the slocker would probably have a hard time staying alive so it may not be a real problem! Thanks for the thought, I now have quite a respectable length list to choose from.
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05/02/2012 11:23 PM
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- Scott
- South Yorkshire
- 20 Oct 2010
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138
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I would definitely stay away from Himalayan Balsam which could cause problems. Its not illegal to grow Himalayan Balsam on your land but it is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" Himalayan Balsam... It roots really well and seeds freely. It won't be long before it finds its way out of your garden. Just one seed stuck in the sole of your shoe is all it takes. Is it really worth a £4000 fine and the costs of having to remove the problem plants...
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06/02/2012 10:48 AM
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- Lin T
- Somerset
- 02 Feb 2012
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4
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I had definitely decided against himalayan balsam anyway. In fact it would probably only be a case of letting it seed itself as it is in the vicinity anyway, less than 100 yards away. Didn't know it the legal siituation though! Pity it is so invasive as it is really rather pretty. But what about skunk cabbage? Is that only invasive in the US or is it here as well? You obviously know your onions/cabbages, your advice is much appreciated.
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08/02/2012 08:33 PM
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- Snark
- Suffolk
- 12 Jan 2011
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281
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I'm not saying my soil is difficult but himalayan balsam has died out twice here! I saw and coveted the skunk cabbage in a garden in Norfolk where they told me they were no longer allowed to sell it but subsequently bought a young plant quite openly from the plant stall at a garden show. I wait to see how it does here. I suspect it will only just survive in the damp (by Suffolk standards )hole I have chosen for it and it will have no chance of escape over the surrounding arable fields. I suspect it could invade if you lived in a bog but cant see it getting away in normal soil. Meanwhile I am looking for a bit of petasites fragrans (winter heliotrope) to see if I can kill that.
For the Snark was a boojum you see
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25/02/2013 10:37 AM
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- Kay
- United Kingdom
- 25 Feb 2013
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1
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You need to find out a bit more about this - there are small features known as slockers by the locals, which are open 'gulls' in limestones, handy for draining into, and caused by cambering of the limestone downslope. There are also a lot of (typically larger) 'swallets' on Mendip, which form by dissolution of the limestone, and (very rarely) lie over underground cave systems. So go careful when digging holes in there, and try and find out a bit more about it.
Planting might have to be limited as bear in mind the last year has been abnormally wet, so it may not normally get as much water as you have seen recently. (We live on Mendip and only this year have our ferns done well, having struggled with the 'underdrained' soils for the last 12 years)!
Kay
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