Quote from
bob on 31st July 2022, 10:42 pm
Hello Ryan,
Unless your garden soil is really moisture retentive, wet, boggy clay like or like sand from a desert, you shouldn’t have to keep adding compost or horticultural grit.
If your soil is clay like, then as you are doing, add horticultural grit along with well-rotted manure or compost, this will assist drainage and help break the clay down.
If your soil is fine and of a sandy sort of make-up, don’t add grit just plenty of compost or well-rotted manure, this will assist in water retention.
The thing to think about is, what conditions your plants like growing in, should your garden be in shade most of the day, and the soil always remaining fairly moist, then look to buy plants that thrive in these conditions, Astilbe, Hosta some Fern’s etc.
Should your garden be a sun trap for most of the day with dryish soil, look to plant sun loving plants, Salvia’s, Achillea, Geraniums, Sedum, Cosmos, but these will require some watering, if your soil is shall we say normal, there is nothing wrong with digging in some compost when putting in a new plant, but this is not necessary and can save you a few pounds on compost, but I would suggest checking on the planting / growing conditions required by the plant, and to see if any feed is required, a bit of feed when starting off and again half way through the season?
You also said, “your garden gets some sun and shade” again when buying a plant check the label, its possible that the plant you like requires a minimum of 6 hours sun a day, or plant in a shady position only, so a bit of homework is beneficial.
I’m sure that Lee offers a one to one service regarding everything to do with garden problems / design etc it may be worth your while contacting him, also I know he has on his blog details about finding out the type of soil in ones garden, so that’s worth a look see.
Hope all goes well in the garden.
Bob
Hello Ryan,
Unless your garden soil is really moisture retentive, wet, boggy clay like or like sand from a desert, you shouldn’t have to keep adding compost or horticultural grit.
If your soil is clay like, then as you are doing, add horticultural grit along with well-rotted manure or compost, this will assist drainage and help break the clay down.
If your soil is fine and of a sandy sort of make-up, don’t add grit just plenty of compost or well-rotted manure, this will assist in water retention.
The thing to think about is, what conditions your plants like growing in, should your garden be in shade most of the day, and the soil always remaining fairly moist, then look to buy plants that thrive in these conditions, Astilbe, Hosta some Fern’s etc.
Should your garden be a sun trap for most of the day with dryish soil, look to plant sun loving plants, Salvia’s, Achillea, Geraniums, Sedum, Cosmos, but these will require some watering, if your soil is shall we say normal, there is nothing wrong with digging in some compost when putting in a new plant, but this is not necessary and can save you a few pounds on compost, but I would suggest checking on the planting / growing conditions required by the plant, and to see if any feed is required, a bit of feed when starting off and again half way through the season?
You also said, “your garden gets some sun and shade” again when buying a plant check the label, its possible that the plant you like requires a minimum of 6 hours sun a day, or plant in a shady position only, so a bit of homework is beneficial.
I’m sure that Lee offers a one to one service regarding everything to do with garden problems / design etc it may be worth your while contacting him, also I know he has on his blog details about finding out the type of soil in ones garden, so that’s worth a look see.
Hope all goes well in the garden.
Bob
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