Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
Welcome to the Garden Ninja Gardening Forum! If you have a gardening question that you can't find answers to then ask below to seek help from the Garden Ninja army! Please make your garden questions as specific and detailed as possible so the community can provide comprehensive answers in the online forum below.
Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1's Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it's a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you!
Posting Rules: This space is open for all garden-related questions. Please be polite, courteous and respectful. If you wouldn't say it to your mum's face, then don't post it here. Please don't promote, sell, link spam or advertise here. Please don't ask for 'cheeky' full Garden redesigns here. They will be deleted.
I’m total novice redesigning my garden to make the back fence a bit more interesting. I’ve dug new beds on what was previously lawn. My question is do I need to add compost to the soil for shrubs and what’s the best way to stop the grass growing back/keep the edges crisp?
So far I’ve planted Choisya, viburnum, pittosporum and pieris amongst others. Excited for summer!!
Thank you.
Cat
I’m total novice redesigning my garden to make the back fence a bit more interesting. I’ve dug new beds on what was previously lawn. My question is do I need to add compost to the soil for shrubs and what’s the best way to stop the grass growing back/keep the edges crisp?
So far I’ve planted Choisya, viburnum, pittosporum and pieris amongst others. Excited for summer!!
Thanks for getting in touch and this is a great question for new gardeners!
It sounds like you've already picked some wonderful shrubs with the selection you've listed above.
To answer your question, you don't need to add compost unless you have really poor soil. It's best used as a mulch in autumn to improve the soil and slow-feed your plants. It's a common misconception that compost needs to be added to all soil. It doesn't unless the soil needs it.
https://youtu.be/ptBotSa2wpw
In terms of the edging its wise to fit a lawn edge stip to keep the border nice and neat. That way you can just mow over it rather than having to use a half moon edger to keep that clean edge. You can find out more about lawn edging nad how easy it is to fit here.
Thanks for getting in touch and this is a great question for new gardeners!
It sounds like you've already picked some wonderful shrubs with the selection you've listed above.
To answer your question, you don't need to add compost unless you have really poor soil. It's best used as a mulch in autumn to improve the soil and slow-feed your plants. It's a common misconception that compost needs to be added to all soil. It doesn't unless the soil needs it.
In terms of the edging its wise to fit a lawn edge stip to keep the border nice and neat. That way you can just mow over it rather than having to use a half moon edger to keep that clean edge. You can find out more about lawn edging nad how easy it is to fit here.
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
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