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Soil conditioners
TheHappyGrower
Posts: 181
That appears to be the case in about 80% of my garden so ever though it`s a tough task I`m adding compost *all purpose* straw & chicken manure & slowly it`s gradually breaking it up & the soil looks so much better over the last 2 weeks 
& the straw/chicken manure idea I got from a book of Geoff hamiltons. So can anyone pass on any advice to make my soil in tip top condition thanks all
& the straw/chicken manure idea I got from a book of Geoff hamiltons. So can anyone pass on any advice to make my soil in tip top condition thanks all 0
Posts
Basically carry on doing what you are doing. The more organic material you can add the better.
Some people may say add sharp sand or grit, but to be perfectly honest in our previous 'grow taller' clay soiled garden (as you walked across it, you got taller 'cos the clay stuck to your boots), we found it made little difference.
Do try to avoid walking on the soil when it is wet though. It compacts it and makes it harder to work on.
it has been almost impossible to grow or even dig as it`s like concrete but slowly something's happening good & that`s a little reward to help me carry on
shame I don`t like near a stables as Monty 2 weeks ago said they are always looking for people to take the manure away.
Thanks for the tips I will certainly take them on-board.
And when autumn comes, go out into the streets and lanes and rake up as many fallen leaves as you can, bag them up, take them home and make free leafmould to dig in the following year
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I wish I lived in the countryside then I could bag up lots of them
leave it for about a year?
If you can shred them - even quicker. Putting them in black bin bags with a few holes punched in the bags is a good way of storing them. I had a few mature trees in a previous garden so had plenty of leaves, and I did that when my purpose made mesh bin became too full.
If you have any neighbours with trees, it might be worth asking them if you can collect theirs too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is there a park, playing field or similar with trees around it? I can't imagine there'd be a problem with you bagging some up (as long as you leave some for the hedgehogs). It might be a good dea to ask your local council in advance.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I`m noting all the tips down
much appreciated.
update on my once clay soil
it`s breaking down slowly & I can put a spade quite a long way in & turn it without a struggle compared to 2 weeks ago but a lot of clods remain.
Stick with it....little joke there (worthy of Verdun himself
)
It'll be worth it HappyGrower. Plants grow well in it once you get it to a more friable consistency.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As my avatar may suggest I am privileged to be offered one wheelbarrow of prime horse s.... ahem, manure per night, if I have the patience to collect it, and it is the best stuff. But leaf mould, as suggested, is also wonderful stuff. I use lot's of leaves as mulch, so the "mould" down naturally on the soil without me doing much about it, except collecting them and putting them where I want them... it seems to work fine... mostly.
I also dig holes in places where I plan to plant greedy plants, and fill the holes with lush weeds and kitchen scraps over the winter-early spring. Then I cover the hole over with ground and plant in the spring. This works really well for pumpkins.