@Hostafan1 The clay was actually in one corner of the garden and I didn't have to dig deep to reach it. I did think it was strange that it was only in one corner. The rest of the garden does have some clay but nowhere near as bad! It is the clay part where I dumped lots of the soil conditioner.
I think I'm going to put some David Austin roses in this corner as I know they love clay.
I'm mainly double digging just to get rid of the bricks and what look like old broken slabs. I will take some photographs of the before and after and post them next year when it's hopefully all done
I'm currently digging new borders in as I only moved into this house this year. I've not been double digging, but I did invest in an electric rotavator from ScrewFix. Best £50 I've spent on gardening tools. It's lightweight, narrow and easy to handle.
I've been breaking the soil up loosely using a garden fork then letting rip with the rotavator to crumble it up. If the soil is sandy or Clay I've added compost at the rate of 2:1 Compost / Soil. If The soil is reasonable loam then I've added no compost or at the rate of 0.5:1.
The borders are looking great, drainage is good because of the depth of digging, and they are slightly raised above the base soil level due to the addition of the compost. Most planting now (except some of the larger trees) is easily done with a hand trowel.
Keep up the good work! It's great exercise, rewarding, doesn't involve a gym membership and you're Mum will really appreciate it!
If you're thinking of planting shrubs and trees, now might be a good time as most are moving into dormancy and you can get some good bare root bargains! Phil
@Hostafan1 The clay was actually in one corner of the garden and I didn't have to dig deep to reach it. I did think it was strange that it was only in one corner. The rest of the garden does have some clay but nowhere near as bad! It is the clay part where I dumped lots of the soil conditioner.
I think I'm going to put some David Austin roses in this corner as I know they love clay.
I'm mainly double digging just to get rid of the bricks and what look like old broken slabs. I will take some photographs of the before and after and post them next year when it's hopefully all done
You’re not a lazy old slag Hosta, you’re a very busy old slag, look at the huge long border you made and planted up this year, that would have been a job for someone half you’re age. (Duckingbehindparapitsmiley) 😱 Not to mention two huge poly tunnels full of beautiful plants. 😉
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Less of the old @Hostafan1 If there's any viable areas, you can certainly plant up @CraighB, but it depends what you have and what you intend adding, plantwise, to the borders
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You’re not a lazy old slag Hosta, you’re a very busy old slag, look at the huge long border you made and planted up this year, that would have been a job for someone half you’re age. (Duckingbehindparapitsmiley) 😱 Not to mention two huge poly tunnels full of beautiful plants. 😉
Aw shucks, but if you'd just contradicted with word " old " too....... X
It depends on what you're planting. If it's shrubs then now is the best time. Otherwise I agree to leave it over winter to let the weather break it down.
I think what I'm more worried about is the soil level is very high now. If I plant out now then the plants will sink when the soil does but they may not sink at the same time.
I will definately wait until spring to plant out. I'm also going to sow grass seed but I haven't even got the ground level yet so this will have to wait until spring now too.
I've given up on it too as so much of what MD says is so factually inaccurate I fear for anyone following some of his "advice".
That's why you and your mates gave me abuse for saying monty don is a tv legend. Unbelievable abuse and then you lot started ranting about Alan Titchmarsh in the same breath 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Posts
I think I'm going to put some David Austin roses in this corner as I know they love clay.
I'm mainly double digging just to get rid of the bricks and what look like old broken slabs. I will take some photographs of the before and after and post them next year when it's hopefully all done
I'm currently digging new borders in as I only moved into this house this year. I've not been double digging, but I did invest in an electric rotavator from ScrewFix. Best £50 I've spent on gardening tools. It's lightweight, narrow and easy to handle.
I've been breaking the soil up loosely using a garden fork then letting rip with the rotavator to crumble it up. If the soil is sandy or Clay I've added compost at the rate of 2:1 Compost / Soil. If The soil is reasonable loam then I've added no compost or at the rate of 0.5:1.
The borders are looking great, drainage is good because of the depth of digging, and they are slightly raised above the base soil level due to the addition of the compost. Most planting now (except some of the larger trees) is easily done with a hand trowel.
Keep up the good work! It's great exercise, rewarding, doesn't involve a gym membership and you're Mum will really appreciate it!
If you're thinking of planting shrubs and trees, now might be a good time as most are moving into dormancy and you can get some good bare root bargains!
Phil
If there's any viable areas, you can certainly plant up @CraighB, but it depends what you have and what you intend adding, plantwise, to the borders
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
X
I will definately wait until spring to plant out. I'm also going to sow grass seed but I haven't even got the ground level yet so this will have to wait until spring now too.