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New garden advice, starting with the soil
Darren Hales
Posts: 4
I've some new flower beds that I'm planning to start planting over the coming weeks. The existing soil is very hard and dry, and looks quite clay like and has lots of small stones in it.
Before I start adding plants, what should I do with this soil? Should I add some new soil, or topsoil? So I need to rotivate what is there, or dig it out and replace it fresh soil?
I've never had a garden before, so this is all new to me and I've no experience.
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Posts
Get some ready bagged well-rotted farmyard manure from a garden centre, spread it on top and dig it in to the depth of a garden fork. You need at least a 2 inch layer to do any good and preferably 4". This will improve the soil structure and add lots of nutrients. If you spread another 2" over the bed each late autumn, the worms will do the work for you so no further digging required. This is called winter mulching and will also help keep weeds down. After a few years of doing this you will have superb soil in which you can grow just about anything.
Thanks Bob.
To clarify, are you saying I can plant after putting down the initial manure, and then add 2" each year, or are you suggesting to add the manure over several years before we start planting?
You can plant as soon as it is forked in, provided it is well rotted. With clay, the more organic matter you add, the better it becomes. If you have home made compost from a compost heap that will be ok as well.