This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Clay/Rocky Raised Bed
Andrew Crookes
Posts: 7
Down the side of my house is a lovely 3m x 1m bed which about a foot high off the ground and has sat empty since we moved in couple of years ago. Ive never really been interested in sorting it out but now that spring is here ive wanted to get it looking nice.
The only thing is the bed is very hard and contains bits of browny clay matter with rocks and pebbles throughout. Having churned over the top 3-5 inch or so and raked it im not sure of the following from here on in
1 what plants best suit the conditions
2 how to plant given the conditions of the soil
3 maintaining / preparing the bed for planting
The area gets sun for around 4 hours a day and then becomes shaded.
Thanks
Andy
0
Posts
Four hours sun is not bad. What do you want to grow? I have similar soil and grow veg, soft fruit, sedums, herbs, hebes, lupins etc. Throw in loads of compost and most plants will survive.
I would add some organic matter, it sounds like you got just soil at the moment, by adding compost or rotted manure you'll get much better results from the plants you put in and it will break down any bits of clay you have in there too.
ok thanks, will stick some bagged manure to the top 3/4 inch and mix it in.
will post a pic of what it looks like when im done this weekend.
thanks
Sounds like my soil Andrew and I have firm favourites that do well in those conditions and amount of sunshine..... Astrantias, hydrangeas, hardy fuschias, hardy geraniums, violets, roses and miss wilmots
hope you like some of these 
I have heavy clay in my garden and would recommend digging in lots of horticultural grit to improve your soil structure and drainage. Clay soils tend to be fertile but the structure needs to be opened up to allow the plants to access it. I wouldn't personally add such a heavy compost as farmyard manure but would go for something lighter like multi purpose compost or spent mushroom compost.
hi guys thought i would update you on how i got on. went to homebase and sorted some manure (2 large bags) and mulched it into the ground and heavily watered it.
I bought my shrubs and planted them with plenty of compost and they are surviving well so far
heres the pics, they have double in size sice this pic so things must be working in there. just gonna get some bark and pop it in to reduce the weeds.