Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Feeding shrubs when there is a lot of underplanting?

sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
in Problem solving
Good morning :)

I have a few shrubs in my front garden that I would like to feed, then mulch.

The soil is pretty compacted and there are masses of (spanish/hybrid) bluebells under the shrubs.

I have tried taking some out (just because they're spreading and i find the masses of green foliage looking messy as I lean towards the formal/structured look) but its impossible, the bulbs are really deep, and the ground being so hard makes it really hard.

Can i just throw in some fish, bone etc and water in? Or should I try to get rid of the bluebells? I dont want to waste any nutrients on them!

Thank you!


«1

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    You pretty much have the answer to your dilemma...if you feed as is, then the bluebells will also benefit. Try to take out as many as you can, including the roots/bulbs and then loosen the soil around the shrub and work the feed in. Maybe watering the ground will make it a bit more workable? Will be a slog but keep digging and think of the end result 😉
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Jess is in the GardenJess is in the Garden Posts: 1,022
    edited April 2019
    You should be able to dig up areas around the shrubs, particularly if they are quite well established. There may be a little superficial root casualty close to the root ball, but so long as you don't interfere with the long tap roots, you'll be ok.
    Bluebells are lovely but I find them too pesky for my garden and keep them in a pot!
    If the soil is really compacted, have a good dig with a fork, which will get deep down to the bulbs. You may not get them all in one season though.
    Use the opportunity to dig in some well rotted matter too (I use a mix and mulch which slowly breaks down) and then top dress with some bark chips.
    You could also try underplanting with a ground cover hardy geranium, which will help suppress weeds and keep the bluebells down.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If you keep pulling out the leaves, many of them and, if you're lucky,most will give up eventually. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    Thank you!

    I will try to dig out as many as I can, but seriously, maybe I need to wear some sturdier shoes, don't seem to make much impact at the moment.

    Yes, will try watering first...

    But I think I may have to pull some out too... I have some shrubs that are congested with them, and surrounded by paving (forming a square) and I don't think my spade or fork will even fit.

    Yes, thanks, will use some well rotted matter - the soil is literally solid in places!

    Thank you very much for all the advice :)


  • Jess is in the GardenJess is in the Garden Posts: 1,022
    If your soil is so compacted, you could be gardening on clay. I do and it's a job to keep turning the soil over and adding stuff to it to improve it. But very much worth it, in the end! Use a small, hand held fork if you don have much space to dig with a larger one.
  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    Ah ok, didn't realise that.  Thanks for the tips!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Another solution might be to just cut off all the bluebell leaves which will deny the bulbs sustenance and then tightly peg some weed suppressant fabric right around all your shrubs and mulch on top with bark mulch. Keep the fabric on for at least a year, if not two. If any bluebell leaves pop up in the middle, just cut them off. You could then use a foliar liquid spray to feed your shrubs (trying a small patch first as not all shrubs like it). If you keep on cutting off the leaves, hopefully the bluebells will eventually die off but they are tough blighters.   
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree that regular cutting off the foliage at soil level will eventually starve the blue bells out but, instead of weed fabric I would apply a jolly good soaking of water and then a good thick mulch of well-rotted horse manure.   You don't need to dig or fork it in.  The worms and other soil organisms will work it in for you.

    Repeat the mulching in autumn and then do it all again next spring and autumn so you keep removing the bluebell foliage  until they give in.  Your shrubs will love you for it and the soil will improve.  Once happy with the state of the soil you can then apply the weed fabric and a covering of chipped bark/pebbles/chipped slate/gravel as you fancy takes you.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    Thank you Lizzie and Obelixx

    Will follow your advice - I hope i manage to get rid of them! 
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Let the bluebells flower then cut off the stems and put them in the bin. After that glyphosate the leaves and that will pretty much do for the bluebells It will also ensure that the bees don’t suck up any glyphosate.

    You can then feed your shrubs as per recommended levels but you’ll have to watch for bluebell seedlings coming up from previous years seeding. Otherwise it’ll be a start all over again scenario.
Sign In or Register to comment.