No short cuts with clay soil I'm afraid. You can get bags of manure from GCs etc Tingly. Is there anyone that could you give you a hand to get some and spread it - a neighbour or a friend with a strong teenager or two?
Getting a load direct from a stable or farm to lay on soil over winter is great and will improve an area of clay very quickly. Fresh stuff has to be left for a while unless it's going on a bare area, but you can pile it in a corner to rot down over winter and then use it on beds which have plants in them. A few bags of grit dug in as well will work wonders.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I completely understand Tingly - I'm on my own and do all the grafting myself, except when I can persuade one of my daughters to help! I know how hard it is to work with heavy soil.
What size of area do you have that needs some help? If it's not too big, I'd suggest just tackling a bit at a time. Ideally, get some manure delivered as a one off, tuck it in a corner (leave it for several months if it's fresh) and just take a bucket each time you go out to do a bit of gardening. Apply it to the surface and over time, you'll make that area easier to work. When you plant anything, add plenty of compost and grit to the hole. That will also have a huge benefit over time.
If it's a big area - it might be worth waiting till you have the funds and getting someone to shove a load of stuff in for you - manure and grit.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hostafan1: basically spread organic matter, even spent hops will do although blackbirds tend to throw them everywhere, bless 'em. Twigs and leaves break down in a year or two.
Tingly: not sure why my name is appropriate, unless you mispronounce it as leaf. It rhymes with waif.
Incidentally the problem with compost in garden centres is they leave it outside, and it soaks up water, becoming very heavy. Sometimes it can be drier, and much much lighter.
All my gardening Tingly has to be thought out very casrefully cos I have 3 slipped discs and osteoarthritis and I'm doing just fine with heavy clay. There are plants that love it and quite honestly as long as your planting holes are decent the plants should be fine without any soil improvement overall.
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No short cuts with clay soil I'm afraid. You can get bags of manure from GCs etc Tingly. Is there anyone that could you give you a hand to get some and spread it - a neighbour or a friend with a strong teenager or two?
Getting a load direct from a stable or farm to lay on soil over winter is great and will improve an area of clay very quickly. Fresh stuff has to be left for a while unless it's going on a bare area, but you can pile it in a corner to rot down over winter and then use it on beds which have plants in them. A few bags of grit dug in as well will work wonders.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks fairygirl- i wish i could get some help but afraid not
i didnt know grit would help
thanks
I completely understand Tingly - I'm on my own and do all the grafting myself, except when I can persuade one of my daughters to help! I know how hard it is to work with heavy soil.
What size of area do you have that needs some help? If it's not too big, I'd suggest just tackling a bit at a time. Ideally, get some manure delivered as a one off, tuck it in a corner (leave it for several months if it's fresh) and just take a bucket each time you go out to do a bit of gardening. Apply it to the surface and over time, you'll make that area easier to work. When you plant anything, add plenty of compost and grit to the hole. That will also have a huge benefit over time.
If it's a big area - it might be worth waiting till you have the funds and getting someone to shove a load of stuff in for you - manure and grit.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks fairygirl- might give the bucketfull at a time a little go to se.
Hostafan1: basically spread organic matter, even spent hops will do although blackbirds tend to throw them everywhere, bless 'em. Twigs and leaves break down in a year or two.
Tingly: not sure why my name is appropriate, unless you mispronounce it as leaf. It rhymes with waif.
Incidentally the problem with compost in garden centres is they leave it outside, and it soaks up water, becoming very heavy. Sometimes it can be drier, and much much lighter.
All my gardening Tingly has to be thought out very casrefully cos I have 3 slipped discs and osteoarthritis and I'm doing just fine with heavy clay. There are plants that love it and quite honestly as long as your planting holes are decent the plants should be fine without any soil improvement overall.