Creating a bog garden is a terrific project that allows you to turn a slow-draining, waterlogged spot into a beautiful attraction, discover exciting plant species and attract wildlife to your garden.

Typically a bog garden consists of a shallow area adjoining a pond or other water feature. It may exploit existing poor drainage in the garden, can be created at the edge of a pond or water garden, or as a standalone feature. Permanently damp, it creates an area where moisture-loving plants will thrive and attract frogs, toads, dragonflies, damselflies while bees and butterflies will flit around the flowers.

• Bog plants love wet soil, but they do not tolerate standing water, particularly in the winter. Naturally damp clay soils are ideal, but you can create wet habitat in free-draining soil if you use a liner and introduce topsoil. You can even make a mini-bog in a container.
• Bog plants thrive in soil with high nutrient levels and that contain lots of organic matter.
• Select a combination of short and tall plants for cover and perches.
• Choose plants so that there is a range of flowers throughout the year, from spring to fall.

Spring is the best time to choose plants and plant a bog garden, as the plants will have enough time to root during the warmer months.

There are many beautiful perennial plants that will thrive in the moist environment provided by bog gardens. Here are excellent choices that will turn a slow-draining, waterlogged spot into a beautiful attraction.