Rather vague advice from @gardeningzilla9XtYVKec. Add compost but don’t add too much compost? What’s too much compost? What will the next advice be? Water but don’t overwater but give enough water but don’t give too much water.
@Liriodendron that’s the thinking I always had about doing it on clay soil, you’re just making a hole for the water to drain into. I think it’s much better to either dig it in across the whole bed or mulch across the whole bed instead.
In unimproved, wet clay, you would never just add compost to the hole. You would dig out a big enough hole, mix the compost with some of that, then plant, and return the mix around the plant. Note - the word 'some'. That's the important bit. The alternatives are either to wait until the ground is in a better state throughout, by mulching regularly or mixing all the soil well, or - have a raised bed filled appropriately.
I've done all of those, and have done several times, depending on the plot and what I'm planting. They all work, but improving the soil first is the best solution, if it's possible
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the comments. I've probably slightly over done the compost in some of the recent planting, but haven't done much yet so I can rein it in for the next plants.
As I said in my other thread, I think the soil is fairly heavy clay and not 'improved' that much. Some Red Robins that were planted end of summer/autumn were showing signs of having quite a wet winter experience by the time spring arrived, but they've survived and will hopefully be better established before the next winter arrives.
The young Phormium looks a but sulky, too, but hopefully the summer heat and drier soil will bring it round.
Improving soil is often a goal. But what is an improvement depends on the plant, the aspect and microclimate. From the top of my head, I would suggest that a good soil mixture would be equal proportions: sand, silt, clay, rotted vegetable matter. The consistency of John Innes compost would be a good standard to aim at.
(For a soil analysis, half fill a transparent container with your soil sample, top up with water, shake it all about, let it settle. Stones and sand will be the bottom layer, then silt, then clay, then orgainc stuff.)
Drainage is as important as moisture retention. To retain moisture, a mulch is probably the best approach. Any vegetable component is already on its way to complete decompostion; it will be added to from rotting roots, falling leaves and the like, and any human intervention.
Tell us what your soil is. Tell us what plants you are thinking of. We will hopefully be able to offer (semi)tailored solutions.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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The alternatives are either to wait until the ground is in a better state throughout, by mulching regularly or mixing all the soil well, or - have a raised bed filled appropriately.
I've done all of those, and have done several times, depending on the plot and what I'm planting. They all work, but improving the soil first is the best solution, if it's possible
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
(For a soil analysis, half fill a transparent container with your soil sample, top up with water, shake it all about, let it settle. Stones and sand will be the bottom layer, then silt, then clay, then orgainc stuff.)
Drainage is as important as moisture retention. To retain moisture, a mulch is probably the best approach. Any vegetable component is already on its way to complete decompostion; it will be added to from rotting roots, falling leaves and the like, and any human intervention.
Tell us what your soil is. Tell us what plants you are thinking of. We will hopefully be able to offer (semi)tailored solutions.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."