I've put 2 dump bags of compost onto my neighbour's beds and planted narcissi for starters. I noticed that I didn't dig up a single earthworm in her garden when planting them, although I had a worm in most fork-fulls in my own garden (it's stony so a fork is easier than a spade.) I'll see how they do, hopefully the compost will help to improve her dreadful soil.
The extra organic matter - of any kind - will certainly make a difference @Helen Bang. I don't really dig as such, except when I plant something. There was a distinct lack of worm activity in this garden [ a distinct lack of a garden at all ] and I've added lots of organic matter, which undoubtedly helps the soil structure over time, and there's certainly a better level of worm activity now . It can be a slow process though. I've really only had blank canvases as gardens, and it's difficult when the soil is poor and has little going for it. Patience is one of the things gardeners need, so I suppose that was a good starting point!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I too saw that experiment @Hostafan1, it was at the National Rose garden in Hertfordshire, now closed. You are correct the Roses all performed well for a couple of seasons but then those trimmed with a hedge trimmer started to suffer and the experiment was abandoned, and they returned to traditional practice. As others have said, a one off treatment will not cause long term harm. This "gardener" sounds like another one of the "mow and blow brigade " that one of the senior gardeners where I volunteer talks about. A big issue is gardeners are not regarded as skilled workers by many in this country, so we have a race to the bottom with low prices and people rushing from job to job, to make a living. Anyone can set themselves up as a gardener with no knowledge or experience. No excuse for treating plants in this way though.
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I don't really dig as such, except when I plant something. There was a distinct lack of worm activity in this garden [ a distinct lack of a garden at all ] and I've added lots of organic matter, which undoubtedly helps the soil structure over time, and there's certainly a better level of worm activity now .
It can be a slow process though. I've really only had blank canvases as gardens, and it's difficult when the soil is poor and has little going for it. Patience is one of the things gardeners need, so I suppose that was a good starting point!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This "gardener" sounds like another one of the "mow and blow brigade " that one of the senior gardeners where I volunteer talks about. A big issue is gardeners are not regarded as skilled workers by many in this country, so we have a race to the bottom with low prices and people rushing from job to job, to make a living. Anyone can set themselves up as a gardener with no knowledge or experience. No excuse for treating plants in this way though.