This has been one of the wettest years any of us can remember. Parts of Glyndebourne’s garden were underwater for several weeks and at one point the ha-ha – a dip in the ground that stops the sheep wandering from our field on to picnickers’ blankets – became a moat.

Although the sun has started shining, it will take some time before the soil becomes workable. Resist the temptation to get on to your flowerbeds or vegetable garden while the earth is still wet as this may compact the soil and result in plants struggling later in the year. Fortunately at Glynde-bourne we are on chalk so most of the gardens will drain quickly (this is one of the few times that we are glad to have chalky soil). But there is a downside – as the water drains away it takes all the nutrients in the soil with it. Mulching and manuring is essential to replace those lost nutrients and we start now with tons of our own compost and manure.

After such a wet period it might seem perverse to start thinking about watering but now is a good time to do just that by checking your hoses, connectors and watering cans. It can be frustrating when, at busier times of the year, you try to use a hose and find it is leaking or that a connection is broken. Check everything is in working order now while you’ve got time. And remember, less is more. With the exception of flower pots and containers, at Glyndebourne we only water plants immediately after planting them into borders; we let the weather take care of the rest.

Many plants have suffered from spending the winter sitting in wet soil. Tulips, in particular, hate the damp and many have rotted and died. One bulb that loves the wet, though, is the snowdrop (pictured above). This year, they are flowering better than ever and we are seeing bumper crops spring up. Now is the time to divide snowdrops to ensure they continue to flower well and to spread them around the garden. To do this, simply dig up a clump, pull it apart and replant the bulbs immediately where you want them to flower.

We may have lost our impressive tulip displays but the snowdrops more than compensate. And with the right bit of care, they will look even more spectacular next year.

  • Glyndebourne’s gardens are open to ticket holders for Glyndebourne Festival (May 17 to August 24) only. Tickets from £10 to £250 via Glyndebourne.com or 01273 815000