Would this idea work ?

ERICS MUM · May 2018

Bit of a long intro, apologies.

i have a tiny flower bed (6 ft x 2 ft !!) which faces south and is backed by well established evergreen shrubs. Nothing much thrives, probably due to the shrubs although they don’t cast a lot of shade and when I fork the soil over to plant things in front i don’t find a lot of roots. When it’s planted up I’m forever watering it.

Im thinking of digging a ‘trench’ and lining it with something that would slow down seepage of water, then filled with good quality topsoil or growing compost. I just want to plan summer bedding or small-ish perennials.

Do you think this would work and if so, what could I use as a lining ? Thanks.

B3 · May 2018

Could you sink some plastic troughs with a bit of drainage into the soil,plant them up with shallow rooted things and hide the rims with topsoil or gravel?

ERICS MUM · May 2018

B3 said:

Could you sink some plastic troughs with a bit of drainage into the soil,plant them up with shallow rooted things and hide the rims with topsoil or gravel?

That’s an idea, thank you. Shallow rooted stuff is all I want really.

Lyn · May 2018

You’ve got just as much of a problem with watering it if you use tubs, pots or troughs, I would go for the plastic layer about a foot deep. Then stick to annuals.

Blue Onion · May 2018

Rather than plastic, use a thick lining of newspaper. It will mostly rot down by the end of the season, but all summer it will hold the water fairly well. You won't have to worry about digging out the plastic layer.. and excess water will soak through eventually, rather than drowning the plants.

Open up up the paper wide, with a good overlap, at least ten or more sheets thick.

Would this idea work ?

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