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question regarding preparation of poor soil

garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
in Plants
hi guys - I have a patch of soil which runs along a south facing wall that I'd like to stick a Jasmine plant in. I've whacked up some trellis - and last week cleared the soil of weeds, roots and general rubbish.

there was a layer of what I can only assume was some sort of weed suppressant around 2 inches under the top soil. I've pulled this out and added compost to the existing soil.

something I did notice when turning the soil was that I didn't come across one worm - which I assume is a bad thing!

I was hoping to get the Jasmine in over the weekend - to try and get it established before it gets too cold. I'm just wondering if I need to give the soil some more time - or if theres anything else I need to do to improve the soil before planting

cheers guys

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2021
    Firstly can I suggest that if at all  possible you plant the Jasmine about 18” out from the foot of the wall and train it back towards the trellis, spreading it out and tying in the stems. 

    It will be less dry there … the foot of a wall is almost always a poor dry spot. It will also be more feasible to dig some well rotted farmyard manure  or well-made garden compost into the whole planting area … about a square yard if possible … that’ll give your plant to spread its roots out and into the soil. Sometimes people forget that the top growth of a climber needs a substantial area of roots to sustain it. 

    The manure etc will also improve the moisture retentive properties of the soil.  A sprinkle of fish blood and bone slow release fertiliser and a good watering your plant should be well away. 

    Give it a mulch of more well -rotted manure (not touching the stems) or homemade compost or composted bark and the job is done. 

    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    garrinchasuperskillz said:


    there was a layer of what I can only assume was some sort of weed suppressant around 2 inches under the top soil. I've pulled this out and added compost to the existing soil.

    something I did notice when turning the soil was that I didn't come across one worm - which I assume is a bad thing!


    The trouble with weed suppressing membrane is that it prevents all sorts of organisms from using the soil. Earthworms can't do do their work of breaking down organic matter and enriching the soil.  Blackbirds and other thrushes can't scratch it up to feed. Membrane is terrible stuff that I have never used nor ever will.  You've done the right thing in removing it and adding compost. 
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
    thanks for the advice guys. I've added more compost to the soil over the last few days - and the consistency is much better. I've dug a hole for the jasmine and am ready to go!

    one final question - should I leave the plant attached to the support until it gets established? pic below


  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Yes is the short answer. It saves it flopping all over the place until you can fasten it in to a framework on the wall. Just make sure the original plant ties are not so tight that they constrict the stems.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @garrinchasuperskillz . When you plant the jasmine, it helps if you can slightly tilt the rootball in the direction of the fence/wall, then the stems will naturally incline towards the trellis. If the top of the plant's cane support reaches the trellis as well, it wouldn't hurt to either tie it to it or just tuck it under a piece of the trellis wood. Helps to keep the plant anchored in case you get any high winds/storms.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
    so, I got this one into the ground at the end of September, following all the advice given and it seemed to be doing alright. last couple of weeks I've noticed some crisping of leaves and in the last week or so it looks like the whole thing is dying off. would this plant be salvageable, or should I just start again with a new one in the spring?


  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    It's difficult to know. I can't grow jasmine outside, my garden is too windy and we get some frosts, but 3 miles away, in my daughter's garden, it flourishes against the house wall. It's only a baby, can you tuck a bit of fleece round it to give it some protection?
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    It's a deciduous variety, so it's doing what is expected. It must be in a sheltered spot to have held on so far, in fact.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
    ok, so the die back is nothing to worry about then?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited December 2021
    Redwing said:
    Membrane is terrible stuff that I have never used nor ever will.  You've done the right thing in removing it and adding compost. 

    I think it's important to keep things in perspective. I've used it for disabled neighbours' front gardens under gravel, where the alternative they were considering was concrete. A weeding one a year seems to be enough to keep the garden gravel clear. At least membrane allows draining of front gardens, for example. On our street I wish more people had gone for gravel over hard surface.
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