Don't dig the compost in where you have bulbs. You can lay mulch (made of compost or well-rotted manure etc.) on top of the areas where you have bulbs, when they are dormant i.e. when there are no leaves showing. Worms and other soil-dwellers will gradually pull the nutrients down into the soil. This is what happens in nature, when leaves fall - there are no garden forks there! Digging it in is great for places like empty veg plots where you're planning to sow a crop later in the year.
My soil in border is full with plants just flowers but it is solid's and and I need to put goodness in what do I use compost or top soil to top up There is no clay but grey and dry and compacted down.when I see the garden programmes theres always looks black and fiberous..
What do I put in my soil to add nutrients I do not have clay but the soil just seems tired it is grey and in my borders for flower plants not a lot of space in between but will fork in on hands and kness what do you recommend top soil a high standard one or compost or manure as you can tell and enthusiastic amateur gardner.
If you can't get any well-rotted farmyard manure locally, the bagged stuff from garden centres etc is very good these days. I've been using the Westlands for a while now with great results.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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Hello wellingtonsallday,
Don't dig the compost in where you have bulbs. You can lay mulch (made of compost or well-rotted manure etc.) on top of the areas where you have bulbs, when they are dormant i.e. when there are no leaves showing. Worms and other soil-dwellers will gradually pull the nutrients down into the soil. This is what happens in nature, when leaves fall - there are no garden forks there! Digging it in is great for places like empty veg plots where you're planning to sow a crop later in the year.
Emma
gardenersworld.com team
Sorry sent 2 as thought the first one hadn't registered.
Compost, manure, anything organic.
In the sticks near Peterborough
If you can't get any well-rotted farmyard manure locally, the bagged stuff from garden centres etc is very good these days. I've been using the Westlands for a while now with great results.
Thank you for that,
I lay cardboard on the soil, then compost on top. The cardboard reduces the light to weeds. It works for me.