Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

pretty soil

Loganberry HutLoganberry Hut Posts: 199
in Problem solving

How do I get pretty soil? (added to the list of things I NEVER thought I would hear myself say!)

 

So the new borders have been created, rotted horse manure added, serious amounts of MPC added, and its been turned and turned again. Its quite heavy clay underneath, so ive dug down and mixed etc. My question is, how do I get that lovely tidy nice soil look? It still looks heavy, and... lumpy... Is this just because its still very wet and cold, or should I be out there sieving it daily with my Finest Ikea sieve lol?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    That lovely dark, crumbly, fine texture will only come with time, Loganberry.  Eventually, even the lumpiest clay will end up looking good.  If you top-dress with a couple of inches of MPC every spring (I use the cheapest available), you can cheat while the worms do the business for you beneath the surface. image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Loganberry HutLoganberry Hut Posts: 199
    Will my seeds cope ok? Sowing lots of annuals soon...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    If sowing seeds, top-dress with the MPC and sow into that using the same depth as recommended on the seed packet.  Don't sow the seeds then top-dress as that will prevent them from germinating (top-dressing acts as a weed seed suppressant, so would also suppress your annual seeds.)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Andrew KennethAndrew Kenneth Posts: 277

    Whats MPC ?

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,109

    multi purpose compost Andrew image

    My new borders are the same Loganberry. Patience is what you need more than anything! image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • the tidy gardenerthe tidy gardener Posts: 591

    oh longanberry hut I know what you mean!

    my mum laughs when I say im getting excited about getting up early and spreading muck on my garden.

    "this from the girl who couldn't come over for sunday dinner because she'd been clubbing all night"

    ha!

  • Andrew KennethAndrew Kenneth Posts: 277
    Fairygirl wrote (see)

    multi purpose compost Andrew image

    My new borders are the same Loganberry. Patience is what you need more than anything! image

    image Of course

  • Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759

    I love this post, I aspire to having pretty soil too.  Unfortunately I seem to have lots of stones in mine.  Got so cross when our plumber dug up a flowerbed and chucked all the soil onto the gravel and then mixed the lot up and chucked it back on the flowerbed.  Grrr, have just chucked a load of MPC on it to cover it all up.  It looks pretty, well for this week it will anyway imageimageimage

Sign In or Register to comment.