Any bulky organic matter will be great. Much better to work it into the surface and lay as a mulch than to dig it into the deeper layers IMO. If you put a thick layer at a deep level and then cover it over with clay, it would probably become anaerobic. Or, stinky, in layman's terms.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Yes don't mix it in @Kathm - just put it on top, as @Loxley says. The only drawback is that you then have to be patient, to let it do it's job. That's easier if it's early autumn, as it'll work over the 'dead months', but it's surprising how big a change you'd see by about June or so. Re slugs - my advice is - forget all the so called solutions. They really don't work. Just stick to plants that are very reliably slug resistant for now and let them get established. You'll be able to grow Rhodos, Azaleas, Pieris etc too, in that site. Then you can have a few things that are trickier, and devote your attention to those as time goes on. I started growing dahlias again a couple of years ago, and had forgotten why I'd stopped in the past! I often adopt the 'pot raised up in a tray of water' method, as the water deters them. I do it with pots of lettuce too. Things like clematis get affected here, but it's one of things I accept because I love them. That's really what it comes down to.
It's often the tiniest slugs ans snails that do the most damage, rather than the big ones. Sneaky b*ggers
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It didn’t helped when I rotovated it all into a clay soup. Oops.
Its at this point that you destroyed the structure of the soil.
The following might be of interest;
When soil, especially clay soil, is moist and plastic in consistency it is highly susceptible to structrural degredation.
A reasonable soil structure is required in order maintain
adequate drainage, water attenuation and aeration, and to enable healthy root
function and growth.
Once damaged, soils such as these, would not be
considered suitable for re-use for landscape purposes.
The advice is to not move soils in this condition and let them dry completely, let alone rotivate them.
For such a small area my advice would be to dig out the 'clay soup' stuff and replace.
Appreciate comments @Loxley@Fairygirl@McRazz. Will take my time sorting things this spring. Have already ditched a large quantity of the clay soup, which as mentioned didn’t smell too great.
This gardening lark really is quite frustrating and a constant learning process.
Apologies - I missed that bit about the rotovating. That might make things slower. Not something I've ever done, but it sounds like you'll need to take a different approach as @McRazz has described. Bummer. Hope you can get a result @Kathm. Take your time thoug - it'll pay dividends.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Appreciate comments @Loxley@Fairygirl@McRazz. Will take my time sorting things this spring. Have already ditched a large quantity of the clay soup, which as mentioned didn’t smell too great.
This gardening lark really is quite frustrating and a constant learning process.
Thanks.
The smell is the soil going anaerobic. Once it smells of manure (but isn't manure) its time to think of a plan B
As you have already put a lot of organic material into the area I would put 3/4 bags of horticultural grit into it to help with drainage. If the corner really is a sump for your neighbours lawn there is not much more you can do except choose plants that enjoy damp conditions and enjoy. A twisted willow would do well if you wanted some height and a light wafty effect. You would need to keep it thinned and trained but I have seen them grown into attractive small trees with a clear stem of around 5/6 ft.
That would be a massive waste of money - you would need tons and tons of it to make any difference. Grit will also tend to just get washed through into the subsoil and be completely wasted. It's only useful in pots. Another alternative for your site is to raise the edging a bit, and therefore make the worst bit higher, but removing that subsoil would be the best approach, and then plenty of good organic matter added to create a better medium. Once there are suitable shrubs/plants put in, that will help. There are loads and loads which will grow there, depending on your likes and dislikes. I forgot to add Dicentras, Polemoniums, and Polygonatums. Convallarias for mid spring too. All will be happy enough there, despite having sun, because of the consistent enough moisture. The removal of the conifer has created a large part of the problem, but new shrubs will soon help with the excess moisture.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Re slugs - my advice is - forget all the so called solutions. They really don't work. Just stick to plants that are very reliably slug resistant for now and let them get established. You'll be able to grow Rhodos, Azaleas, Pieris etc too, in that site. Then you can have a few things that are trickier, and devote your attention to those as time goes on. I started growing dahlias again a couple of years ago, and had forgotten why I'd stopped in the past! I often adopt the 'pot raised up in a tray of water' method, as the water deters them. I do it with pots of lettuce too. Things like clematis get affected here, but it's one of things I accept because I love them. That's really what it comes down to.
It's often the tiniest slugs ans snails that do the most damage, rather than the big ones. Sneaky b*ggers
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not something I've ever done, but it sounds like you'll need to take a different approach as @McRazz has described.
Bummer.
Hope you can get a result @Kathm. Take your time thoug - it'll pay dividends.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Another alternative for your site is to raise the edging a bit, and therefore make the worst bit higher, but removing that subsoil would be the best approach, and then plenty of good organic matter added to create a better medium. Once there are suitable shrubs/plants put in, that will help. There are loads and loads which will grow there, depending on your likes and dislikes. I forgot to add Dicentras, Polemoniums, and Polygonatums. Convallarias for mid spring too. All will be happy enough there, despite having sun, because of the consistent enough moisture.
The removal of the conifer has created a large part of the problem, but new shrubs will soon help with the excess moisture.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...