Advice on planting a new in-ground plant bed

wemyssgarden · May 2023

Hi I am new to gardening and looking for some advice. I have previously only planted in pots and I am hoping to start planting in the ground for the first time.

I have a long, fairly narrow strip of turf to the side of my path which I am planning on digging up and making into a plant bed. The plant bed will be on a slight slope. I live in a new build and the soil is very dense clay and full of rubble. I am therefore planning on digging deep and removing as much of this as possible, then refilling the ground with new soil/ compost.

I am a bit confused exactly what types of material to fill it with and in what compositions. Should I fill it with a mixture of loam soil and top soil? Do I add in compost too? What types? How much of each? How do I make sure the drainage is sufficient? Do I need to add in sand or grit? Any other advice or things I need to think about I'm not aware of? I am very new to this. Thank you!

zugenie · May 2023

I would do mostly top soil, then top off with compost. Would be a good idea to dig some compost or well rotted manure into the clay at the bottom before refilling with top soil.

I will say clay gets a bad rep, I gardened on a new build clay garden for a good few years, and after I had taken the time to dig it over, mix in compost and break up the clumps (and remove all the ‘extras’ the builders leave behind) it was lovely soil to grow in!

Fairygirl · May 2023

Organic matter is what you need - lots of it. Rotted manure [you can buy it bagged] compost, some topsoil - if you can get hold of molehill soil it's ideal, and you can also get what's called soil conditioner, which is often chicken manure in a pelleted form. The amounts don't matter - just add wat you can manage. If you have old compost in your pots, you can add that as well

It isn't always necessary to remove what's there, but it depends how much rubbish is situ. You don't need to add grit or fine gravel when it's a bed/border, as it's expensive, and you'd need a lot of it to make any difference.
The organic matter does the job regardless of soil type. It holds moisture in light sandy soil, but helps with drainage in heavier soil.
What you then plant will depend on other things like aspect, and your general climate and location

Slow-worm · May 2023

Maybe put a layer of grit in first to help break up some of the clay for added drainage.

Fairygirl · May 2023

It isn't any use for a border @Slow-worm, for the reasons I gave. Best kept for pots

Slow-worm · May 2023

Fairygirl said:

It isn't any use for a border @Slow-worm, for the reasons I gave. Best kept for pots

Apologies, I just saw that you said that! 🤦‍♀️😁

Fairygirl · May 2023

No probs @Slow-worm - it's natural to think grit helps, because, of course - it does in many instances.
Not in a big area though, unless you're chucking in the amounts Mr Don barrows in

Slow-worm · May 2023

Well yes I was thinking of a decent amount, but I doubt most of us could afford the amounts Mr D can!
Thinking about it, we didn't grit our new clay either, just dug in kitchen compost as and when - it was lovely soil.

Fairygirl · May 2023

Clay is by far the best growing medium, but it needs a bit of help to make it do the best job. There's no short cut, and organic matter is by far the best, and most successful method of improvement, regardless of climate and location. If you have anyone with guinea pigs, rabbits or similar, that's a very useful addition too. We have a tiny smallholding further up the road, and they acquired some alpacas a year or two ago. I've been considering asking them for a few bags of manure for the compost bin. It's great stuff too.
I've never gardened on anything else but clay, and even in this garden, it didn't take long to alter compacted turf into very healthy, easily worked soil. The raised beds have also just had organic matter added each year, and they're perfect for all kinds of plants.

Home composting is also great once you get going @kellieparsons, but that's something to consider for later on. It's a very useful additive for beds/borders

JennyJ · May 2023

Fairygirl said:

...If you have anyone with guinea pigs, rabbits or similar, that's a very useful addition too. ...

That made me laugh out loud

, but I'm sure @Fairygirl means their poo and maybe their used straw/bedding (although that might be better composted first - it would make good "browns" mixed in with grass clippings).

Fairygirl · May 2023

Oh yes - sorry @JennyJ ! I wasn't concentrating well enough there!
Although - we all end up the same way, so it probably wouldn't do any harm to add them too

I have a friend whose daughter had guinea pigs for the kids, and I remember asking her for for the bags of poo when she was looking after them. I think she definitely decided I was bonkers if she didn't already think so

I just chucked it into the compost, but you could probably layer it low down in the bed, especially if it was shavings, which are more popular for small animal bedding nowadays.

Advice on planting a new in-ground plant bed

Posts