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SOIL COMPACTION

theconstantgardenerinwalestheconstantgardenerinwales Posts: 71
in Problem solving
Hello, I am here again with another question. I hope you can help like you normally do, for which I am very grateful.

Last year, I took out 32 Dahlias that had flowered beautifully in their first year,(apart from when we had a gale and some got blown about badly, but recovered.)

I did all the things recommended to keep them over Winter (very hard work!!) but they all look good. So well worth it.
I also bought £90 worth of, what looked like good top soil to improve the ground for this year.
 
I dug it in as best I could in the Autumn and intended to add the plants back in May.

(I live in Mid Wales so weather hasn't been too good.)

Today I tried digging it but it is well compacted!! I am turning over big clumps which are hard to break. There seems to be a few worms about but not many. The top soil is grey and rock hard but about 8 inches down the soil is dark. 

The Winter here was very cold and wet, with the usual gales. The bed was empty all Winter and only snowdrops appeared well and healthy in February.
However, since then, not even weeds are appearing in there.

Today, I have dug over half the bed and I also intended to add compost with the Dahlias which are at present in large pots of new compost.

I thought someone may be able to give me any other advice.
 


Any tips will be much appreciated.
Many Thanks, 
Hazel.





Posts

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I suspect the winter rain has compacted the surface, and now this cold wind has sucked the moisture out of the top layer.  Turn  and break the soil as best you can. A good thick mulch of organic material will help now. Next winter either cover the ground with plastic or landscaping fabric,  or better still cover with a thick mulch.  The worms will take some down but the top will be soft and more easily worked next year. 
    AB Still learning

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Is it possible the topsoil you thought was decent contains a lot of grey clay? It could have been a mix with compost and now the compost has been absorbed into the soil with worm action, winter erosion, etc., you are left with the clay. Topsoil isn't normally grey. Is the dark stuff 8 inches down the original soil you have across the plot?

    Allotment Boy has suggested the best solution i.e. applying a thick mulch.
  • theconstantgardenerinwalestheconstantgardenerinwales Posts: 71
    Thank you, I think you are both probably correct, the topsoil looked perfectly fine and dark when I used it though, but yes,  the soil does look like the soil I have elsewhere. 
    I will mulch well before I plant the Dahlias again and hope it works. I am grateful to you both. 
    Hazel.
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