I have heavy clay - the hellebores are loving it. I found some stuff called 'soil improver' that's pretty cheap, made from recycled garden waste, and well rotted manure can be obtained inexpensively. You could try applying it as a mulch round the base of the plants to keep it from the edges, but building up the height of the bed will improve drainage.
I am a novice and still learning but I have one piece of advice - avoid adding sand. We've just cleared a patio and gravelled area that had been levelled with sand and some parts had turned into something concrete - like!
RD - I've also have clay in every garden I've had and I know what you mean about the cost of improving it especially if you don't have room to make your own compost. Lots of councils offer compost at a good rate though so maybe it's worth a call? As mentioned already growing plants that like the soil is the best option really. I did this and then, as the soil improved over time, I added other plants that I liked which needed slightly different conditions. Have you thought of raising the front edge of the border and perhaps putting an extra barrier along the bottom of the fence? Even polythene will help as it protects the timber. I put gravel boards at the bottom of fences when I put them in to help with this but it would be hard for you to do that now. Like bookmonster I also used soil improver called 6x and it was very helpful.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I have heavy clay - the hellebores are loving it. I found some stuff called 'soil improver' that's pretty cheap, made from recycled garden waste, and well rotted manure can be obtained inexpensively. You could try applying it as a mulch round the base of the plants to keep it from the edges, but building up the height of the bed will improve drainage.
I am a novice and still learning but I have one piece of advice - avoid adding sand. We've just cleared a patio and gravelled area that had been levelled with sand and some parts had turned into something concrete - like!
RD - I've also have clay in every garden I've had and I know what you mean about the cost of improving it especially if you don't have room to make your own compost. Lots of councils offer compost at a good rate though so maybe it's worth a call? As mentioned already growing plants that like the soil is the best option really. I did this and then, as the soil improved over time, I added other plants that I liked which needed slightly different conditions. Have you thought of raising the front edge of the border and perhaps putting an extra barrier along the bottom of the fence? Even polythene will help as it protects the timber. I put gravel boards at the bottom of fences when I put them in to help with this but it would be hard for you to do that now. Like bookmonster I also used soil improver called 6x and it was very helpful.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...