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Non amendment of soil when planting out

StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102
in Plants
Just read that it’s now looked on as a bad practice to add compost to the soil when planting out shrubs and perennials. Apparently, as long as the soil is effectively prepared and is loose for plant roots, then the only other requirement would be to add a natural fertiliser such as bonemeal. 
This is so the roots of the plant do not become restricted and will spread in to the unamended soil
it might be that you are all doing this now but thought it would be interesting to see your responses on for or against 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I use compost when preparing an area for planting because I have sandy soil, but not in individual planting holes.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Seems to make sense.
    I know that for some time it's been recommended not to add manure/compost when planting trees, thus forcing the roots to stretch out and find nutrients thereby making the tree more stable faster. So I guess the same applies when planting shrubs perennials.
    I usually just sprinkle some blood/fish/bone and seaweed meal for shrubs/perennials, but I put it over all the borders in the spring

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102
    Basically, if your soil is well prepared after years of adding garden compost, manure etc then there is no requirement to add any other additional compost to the planting mix.However, does it really matter if one add a level of compost to the soil mix when planting out if your soil is well prepared. Personally, if I’m replacing a shrub, I will always think it’s good practice to amend the soil prior to planting the new shrub in the same area 
    This is because the original shrub has used up all the nutrients in the surrounding soil, particularly one of a mature size 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    greenfingers steve said:
    I will always think it’s good practice to amend the soil prior to planting the new shrub in the same area 
    This is because the original shrub has used up all the nutrients in the surrounding soil, particularly one of a mature size 
    I think the current advice is to plant it without adding compost in the hole but to then mulch the soil surface with compost or whatever to replace soil nutrients and also suppress the weeds while the plant gets established - so top dress rather than mix in. Certainly that's what I was told by a local (good) nursery for tree planting.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • Mark 499Mark 499 Posts: 380
    Recent research has found that adding bonemeal to the planting hole is not a good idea as it inhibits mycorrhizal fungi. Seems planting direct into native soil is best.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    What raisingirl said is what I have been told on my RHS course. No organic matter under trees, mainly because as it rots down the tree can end up planted too deep. But a good mulch after planting.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Any  animal based  fertiliser is a no no  if you have  foxes.  They will  rotivate the soil whether you want them to or not.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    I have always tended to add something, and not really considered very carefully. but I can see the point made now.
    greenfingers steve said:
    Just read that it’s now looked on as a bad practice to add compost to the soil when planting out shrubs and perennials.
    This is so the roots of the plant do not become restricted and will spread in to the unamended soil.

    Over the years on heavy clay soil I have tended to improve whole planting areas, making a new flower bed I will have done a "proper job".
    But there are still bits that have solid clay where I didn't thoroughly prepare as I have widened a bed a little or missed bits because of removing something that was already here and liked, so kept.
    Then realizing it was a bit last legs or mediocre because it had been planted in solid clay.

    I have sometimes worried that roots might end up sitting in a puddled bottom clay pan area.  So have broken it up a bit and added something to improve it without making a sump effect.... hopefully thinking the plant will still search and work its was through breaking clay as it goes. As with worms helping out with mulches and underground too.

    Now I am not sure where to start or stop?

    Or do we have extremes like Jennyj sandy soil, if it allows water to practically run through and wash all nutrients and compost additions through/down/away.
    In that case there is only so much we can grow or limit ourselves to?

    Or are they talking about a reasonable soil.
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