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Preparing for Autumn (Pruning, soil improvement etc)

sunitsunit Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hello all, 
I am a very new gardener (last 4 months and I have fallen in love with it) so I apologise for what to most will probably seem like mundane questions. 

I have a very simple garden (patio, 2 borders(15m x 0.7m) and lawn). I live in North West London and have very heavy clay soil. I have been doing research and have decided I will use autumn to dig in a load of compost, horse manure and have been told gypsum also helps. 

I have a planted a lot of perennial plants in the borders (Phlox, Papavers, Salvias, Foxgloves, Gladioli, Aliums etc) as well as some shrubs like Viburnum Tinus, Orange Berberis and Daphne Odora.
When I cut the perennials back, is it safe for me to dig up the whole plant, pot the plant into some compost and place them in my (yet to arrive) greenhouse for the winter?

Since what is planted is very densely planted, I would like to do this to in order for me to clear the space for the soil improvement. Some of my plants I have been told will rot if I don't do this (Gladioli, Dahlias) but I was wondering if I can do it for all of them and then replant them either in early spring or back into the ground straight after digging in the compost/manure. 

Thank you for reading. I would really appreciate any advice so that I can get planning.  

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You can if you like, but bear in mind the roots will have grown so you'll need bigger pots than the ones you bought them in. An alternative would be to do it a section at a time, another would be to spread the manure/compost over the surface in Autumn when the soil is nice and moist (leaving a little space around the stems of the shrubs) and let the worms do the work over the winter.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Hello Sunit, welcome to the forum  :)
    As Jenny says it may be easier to spread the compost etc. around the plants rather than digging all of them up again. Having said that, if the planting really is very dense and is comparatively new, you would probably need to dig up and move some anyway to allow them room to grow and let light and air in.
    Is there any chance of a photo or two so that we can see the layout? 
    Always nice to hear of someone who has discovered the joys of gardening  :)
  • sunitsunit Posts: 8
    My apologise for the delayed reply. I was away for a short break. Thank you JennyJ and AnniD for the suggestions. I'm not so worried about the ease of the task. I quite like physical work (keeps me out of trouble). I'm just keen to improve the soil deeper down. I've noticed at around then 8-10 inch mark it starts to almost solidify and is hard to dig.
    However if the worms are able to do the work for me then I am perfectly happy to let nature take its course.
    JennyJ, I do have significantly bigger pots and my neighbour has even more so being able to replant them in bigger containers won't be much of an issue.
    AnniD the planting is quite dense. As I am learning more about structuring borders, it is very likely that given the autumn/early spring most of what I have will move either to give space or because I prefer it elsewhere. About 90% of the plants in the border are all new (purchased and planted this year). I have attached some photos as requested.  
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Research increasingly shows that digging is not always the best solution as it destroys many beneficial soil organisms.  Assuming the plants you have are doing well I would leave them where they are but take photos and note their positions.   As they go dormant this autumn you can then safely pile one several inches depth of well rotted manure and/or garden compost then leave it for the worms and other organisms to work in to the soil. 

    I wouldn't bother with gypsum.  The amounts you'd need to make a difference are huge and the organic matter is much better for all the micro-organisms and small critters you can't see working away.

    Make sure you plant any new bulbs before you mulch.   Come spring, your perennials will happily push up through the mulch and can, if necessary, be lifted and divided.  They'll survive a lot better under a blanket than in pots.

    This may seem passive but barrowing manure about is good exercise and good garden husbandry too and is the best treatment for clay.  Having said that, your borders do look very narrow so if you're desperate to dig, I would suggest you relay that path a good 3' further across and then you can dig out a wider border - and cover it with loads of manure ready for planting up in spring.

    The only plants you have that might need lifting are the dahlias once frost ahs blackened their leaves.   They probably won't survive winter if your soil stays wet and/or cold in winter - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=337 

    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
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I can't add much to what Obelixx has said, the plants certainly look well cared for and healthy. 
    The suggestion of widening the border if possible is one l'd agree with but l appreciate that it may be a step too far.
    You could perhaps consider putting another border on the other side of the path so that it goes through the middle of the flower bed. I know this isn't exactly what your query was !
    If you were able to do that you could move some plants to give others more space (and of course buy more plants perhaps :) )
  • sunitsunit Posts: 8
    Thank you everyone for your advice. It's helped steer my thought process. I think I will mulch with manure and compost as recommended and let the worms take over.

    With a young family I need the garden to be a multi faceted as football is regularly played and the garden is actually very narrow. However I do have a border on the opposite side which is relatively empty except for a mature Camellia and Hydrangea (and a few bedding plants. I ran out of ideas) so I have plenty of space to move things from one side to another outside of growing season 

    AnniD, I did have a bed on the other side of the path but it threw the whole garden out of balance (my wife and I didn't like it but couldn't put a finger on why) so I levelled and turfed the strip over. And of course I will be buying more plants but that's now for late this year with a view to plant out in Spring. I have some ideas on incorporating Agapanthus. I will also be fixing some trellis to the fence and trying to train Sweetpeas and Clemetis to climb. 

    Once again thank you all for the help. I appreciate everyone taking the time out to help out a novice and total stranger. 
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