If the ground is very wet then I would not recommend walking on to dig as this will compact the soil. If you can dig without walking on then should be okay... mind you seems we are all in for more snow!

Not me, Mg - I have done an anti-snow dance! LOL.

P.S. Do you think it will work?

by heck it worked in cheshire,you must have been facing the wrong way.

I know parts of W Sx can be very clayey, which won't dry out until March at the earliest and then be rock hard by June! Good soil for growing, but hard work. At this time of the year, I would probably try covering the ground - or as much as you can with either black plastic sheeting or old carpet to supress the weeds for a couple of months and then lift an area to work on, digging and weeding as you go.
You will need to be aware that weeds will grow back very quickly in your newly dug patch, so it might pay you to work on small areas and get them how you want them [covering others bits as you go] or you could re-cover the dug plots with weed suppressing membrane, which will allow the water in, but any weed regrowth under it will be 'weedy' pardon the pun! and easier to pull up. Different parts of my allotment are covered like this and it really cuts down the weeding - I hate it!!
Good Luck.

Lol Spritz ...:~)))) (hope it works,take it you had all the gear on Lol) best laugh i`v had all week....

Ooooh, Mobee! Of course I did! Got to keep it away, haven't I? lol.

Good, Cliffo. I am a genius, as you are so far away! :-))))))))

we got some today. thanks spritz! I had to go outside mid morning for 15 mins and it was not very pleasant.

Oh dear - sorry, Sbg! You could do one too, though! LOL.

I find that no matter how much I read and determine to observe 'good gardening' rules and do things at the proper time etc. I always end up doing stuff when I feel like it and when I have the time. I know it means that mistakes are made and it's not best practice, but I find that the therapeutic effects of gardening are so much a part of my 'hobby' that timing, soil condition, weather etc. etc. are not so important to me as getting out there and doing it when you feel like it. There's nothing as satisfying as clearing a new bed of weeds!! Go ahead! Get stuck in! and try not to compact the soil too much by standing on a plank of wood over the bed if you have one!

Digging clay soil when it is wet is seriously counterproductive KS... fine if that is what you want to do but it does not help the soil in any way shape or form as it will be seriously compacted even if you lay down planks to walk on. There is a huge temptation for all of us to get out and do regardless... might I suggest a good long walk when you are itching to get onto the garden and can't!

I personally feel I've been almost housebound over the last month plus due to the weather... and now it is snowing again. Nothing is served by getting so impatient that you destroy the soil structure.

I know, I know, You're totally right! I am totally berated!

I'm firmly in the not-good-practice-but-i-feel-like-it-so-there camp MG and KS. Hang good gardening practice. It's all down to whim, energy levels and luck in our garden.
A big factor for daytime workers who cannot work at home in late winter/early Spring is the terribly limited amount of daylight hours available to us for weeding etc. The weather rarely obliges with favourable conditions, not to mention other family members! I'm not a textbook or professional gardener - I'm in it for the therapy value. Long walks are nice too, but not the same as messing about with trowel or hoe. : )
Just don't do as I do, anyone else reading this! You have been warned.

Ah! Another soulmate for me!! Actually I believe this is quite a serious point. There IS something to be gained by going out and doing what you can when you have the energy:- Fresh air, exercise, a good outworking of any pent up frustrations etc. My garden is, at one level, an expression of my personality and not an exercise in plantsmanship or expertise. I guess I am biased in my feelings about this because I am a therapist by profession! I would love to see more therapy going on in gardens and feel that this is something we have only just begun to see the value of....I'm just waiting for someone to gift me a big house and garden so I can combine both of my passions! lol

There is lots you can do in a garden even when the ground is wet - just not dig clay soil! Right now our garden is under a blanket of snow, again... we have only had bare earth for about a week and now it is all covered again. Much as I am itching to be out doing it simply isn't possible. So it is go for a walk and let off steam that way. our garden is not about perfection but if you want to grow veggies you need to treat the soil with care :-)

Yes, of course mrs MG! I'm sorry the snow has hit you again. We have frost here and bright sunshine. Believe it or not there is a rosebud which has overwintered and is coming out!!

Thanks very much for everyone's replies. It turned out the ground was frozen so I did other things, not garden orientated unfortunately.

Thanks Wendiam about covering the weeds up and then working on them afterwards. I have quite a bit of carpet offcuts so will put that into action.

you're welcome - look forward to seeing the pictures of your work in progress.