Chicken manure should be fine. It tends to be best for plants which like alkaline soil, but I've used it now and again and it doesn't seem to have had any negative effects. My soil has always been neutral to acidic and I can grow all sorts of plants which technically like acidic conditions. I expect if you wanted acid loving shrubs, it could be a little bit iffy initially if you used a lot of it. Someone who uses it regularly might be able to help better with that though
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The advantage of using well rotted manure / compost or any other bulky organic material is that it provides bulk as well as some nutrients and helps to improve the general structure and overall condition of the soil ready for planting shrubs etc.
Dried chicken pellets are a good source of nutrients (I often use them as a top dressing in spring) but do little to improve the structure of the soil.
I would buy in several bags of well rotted farmyard manure from the garden centre and spread it out to give a 10cm layer over the widened borders. If you lightly fork it in now you will find the soil ready for planting in a few weeks.
Some lovely planting suggestions above and I have wall envy! It looks like there might be some pockets in the wall where you could plant tiny alpines and ferns on the vertical face - I'd love to have that opportunity....
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Don't think so @andrew.g.whytemInpxd9z , but it may have been mixed up with a spam post. Happens sometimes . I use the chicken manure pellets mainly because they're easy to use, and just lightly fork them in. If there's no rain after a week or so l make sure l water round any nearby plants.
Sorry @andrew.g.whytemInpxd9z - I can only assume that, as @AnniD has said, that someone has either quoted your post with an advert in it, or something similar, so your post has been flagged up too, as if you're the spammer. Unfortunately, Fridays are the spammers' preferred day for trying to sell their rubbish I was out at that time so wasn't aware if anything dodgy had happened, but it's why I was a bit taken aback. With a bit of luck, those who flagged you will see this, and press it again, and that removes it I'd agree with @Topbird re using bags of manure though - that's what helps most. Lots of actual matter rather than something which is sprinkled on, although that's helpful too. You can keep adding compost etc at various times to aid that structure, as it also helps with drainage, and that can be very useful if your soil is consistently moist. Good luck with your project though, and we'll all be keen to see what you eventually choose for planting the bed with.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, @Fairygirl, there was an intermingled spam post earlier on - sneaky! Don't worry @andrew.g.whytemInpxd9z, you've done nothing wrong. It's Friday and often spammers come out to play!
Thank you all for your suggestions - I have already started widening the bed as suggested and mixed in some manure ready for some April planting. Will update on progress!
I have to disagree re the comment about Dicentra spectabilis - it lasts for ages here, especially if deadheaded. I'd agree re D. formosa being a lovely little plant though
It [dicentra] has a new name now too - Lamprocapnos [a right mouthful!] but you'd still find it under Dicentra.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Chicken manure should be fine. It tends to be best for plants which like alkaline soil, but I've used it now and again and it doesn't seem to have had any negative effects. My soil has always been neutral to acidic and I can grow all sorts of plants which technically like acidic conditions. I expect if you wanted acid loving shrubs, it could be a little bit iffy initially if you used a lot of it.
Someone who uses it regularly might be able to help better with that though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Dried chicken pellets are a good source of nutrients (I often use them as a top dressing in spring) but do little to improve the structure of the soil.
I would buy in several bags of well rotted farmyard manure from the garden centre and spread it out to give a 10cm layer over the widened borders. If you lightly fork it in now you will find the soil ready for planting in a few weeks.
Some lovely planting suggestions above and I have wall envy! It looks like there might be some pockets in the wall where you could plant tiny alpines and ferns on the vertical face - I'd love to have that opportunity....
I use the chicken manure pellets mainly because they're easy to use, and just lightly fork them in.
If there's no rain after a week or so l make sure l water round any nearby plants.
Unfortunately, Fridays are the spammers' preferred day for trying to sell their rubbish
I was out at that time so wasn't aware if anything dodgy had happened, but it's why I was a bit taken aback. With a bit of luck, those who flagged you will see this, and press it again, and that removes it
I'd agree with @Topbird re using bags of manure though - that's what helps most. Lots of actual matter rather than something which is sprinkled on, although that's helpful too. You can keep adding compost etc at various times to aid that structure, as it also helps with drainage, and that can be very useful if your soil is consistently moist.
Good luck with your project though, and we'll all be keen to see what you eventually choose for planting the bed with.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have to disagree re the comment about Dicentra spectabilis - it lasts for ages here, especially if deadheaded. I'd agree re D. formosa being a lovely little plant though
It [dicentra] has a new name now too - Lamprocapnos [a right mouthful!] but you'd still find it under Dicentra.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...