Ericaceous section in a raised bed?

Kayleigh.G · May 2023

Hi all, I am very new to gardening to bare with me!

I have recently built some raised beds to act as borders in my garden. I have only been in my house for a year, and the garden is in need of some personality!

I have done lots of research, and have begun to purchase different plants to fill my bed, making sure they're all suitable for a sunny, west facing border. All of the plants I am using can be planted in neutral compost, so I have purchased peat free all purpose compost. I will top this all off with some top soil.

I really want to plant some heathers in my border, as I think they are stunning and will compliment my cottage style theme, but I know they need to be in ericaceous compost. Can I just create a well and fill it with ericaceous compost in sections of the bed, or will this upset the other plants? Is there a way I can maybe create small, walled off sections of soil within the bed?

Thanks

Loxley · May 2023

Unfortunately you can't really just have a small pocket of ericaceous compost, it will revert to the surrounding soil pH. However you can find less fussy varieties of heather, which will be fine in regular compost as long as it is high in organic matter. For example, Erica x darleyensis. (I would mix your topsoil with the compost rather than adding it on top by the way!)

Kayleigh.G · May 2023

@Loxley thank you! I did think that would be the case.

Good to know about the top soil too, I will be sure to mix it in!

Fairygirl · May 2023

I'd use mainly soil in your bed - compost won't last well enough for plants long term, but is fine as an addition. You can also section off an area of your raised bed completely if you want to grow anything which would need different conditions - I've done that many times. You just need to ensure it's done properly

Not all heathers require acidic soil. Many of the winter ones in particular. The Ericas - like the darleyensis mentioned, and carnea, and I think there's another one or two types, will be fine in neutral or even slightly alkaline soil. Most of the summer flowering ones - the callunas especially, need a more acidic soil to thrive.

Ericaceous section in a raised bed?

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