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Too dry?

GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi - I've got a wildlife pond and wanted to create some shade, so I put earth down to make a little hillock, and planted on top. But nothing's growing, and my new plant is dying. Would this just be because it's too dry and not taking up moisture? I added compost and fish/bone to it. Any thoughts on how I can make it work? Thanks!

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Any chance of a photo please ? It will help with advice  :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a photo @chrisdougpittEx6s4u6-? It's difficult to offer advice based on your post  :)
    Could you not have planted into the surrounding ground? Raised soil will always be a drier medium. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6

  • GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6
    Fairygirl said:
    Have you got a photo @chrisdougpittEx6s4u6-? It's difficult to offer advice based on your post  :)
    Could you not have planted into the surrounding ground? Raised soil will always be a drier medium. 
    Photo posted! I was trying to create shade so it seemed like a good idea to raise it - but maybe not!
  • GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6
    AnniD said:
    Any chance of a photo please ? It will help with advice  :)
    Photo posted!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is that the pond on the right?
    If you take all that grass away and create a proper bed, you'd have more chance of plants surviving. The grass is competition for moisture.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6
    Fairygirl said:
    Is that the pond on the right?
    If you take all that grass away and create a proper bed, you'd have more chance of plants surviving. The grass is competition for moisture.  :)
    Ah, good thought, thank you! 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I think a small mound like that will get too dry. Why do you want shade? Is it for wildlife? It would be better to plant a shrub on flat ground which will provide shade.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • GrumpyschnoodleGrumpyschnoodle Posts: 6
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I think a small mound like that will get too dry. Why do you want shade? Is it for wildlife? It would be better to plant a shrub on flat ground which will provide shade.
    Thanks, yes it's to create shade in the pond. I guess I was trying to speed up the process by making a hill but not sure it's going to work!
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