General Chat

I have just cut down a small hedge and tree and the soil underneath is like concrete. In Harlow it's like clay, this soil hasnt been touched in years. I have some stuff to put on which is a top dressing but wondered when it's the best time to do it. Hope for some advice Julia

Hi Julia. I am no expert at gardening and I'm sure you will get a reply from someone who is, but I would say, firstly, have you removed the roots or could this be one reason why the soil feels so hard? Secondly, a top dressing will not be enough to restore the soil after years of being planted to hedge and tree. You will need to put some goodness back first and I would suggest that you visit a good garden centre and ask them what they recommend. Also, I assume that you are planning to plant something else there, so it might be a good idea to tell them what your soil is like and ask for suitable suggestions. Hope this helps. Cheers - Chris p.s. you can feed soil anytime I believe.

Thanks Christine and Margaret for the advice. One of the reasons they was cut down and not dug up is that we have a lot of cables running around the garden. just below the surface. I hope some day to have a cottage garden affect but the border doesnt get a lot of sun. Thing I'll stick down what I'v got anyway It's not going to any harm even if it doesnt do any good Julia

If you have just cut the trees down and left the roots in you may well get fungus (like toadstools) growing, sometimes you may get 'honey fungus', you will need to treat this with a suitable fungicide if you do. Ask at a garden centre for the right stuff to put on. it is not really a good idea to leave roots in. Ann Glos

Julia ,you do have a problem ,don,t you? Apart from replacing the soil as has already been suggested your only other option is to break the clay up.The only way to do this is dig in loads of fresh ,or dried manure,compost,leaf mould,anything which is going to turn the soil friable [crumbly].If it,s a biggish area ,you could grow tatties in it this year to help the process ,and return to normal next season.There is no quick fix other than a complete soil change.Fred.

Hi Julia, Let me know your address in Harlow and I'll bring our flippin' cat over, you can keep her, she's always digging holes in our soil (in the wrong places, of course!), and that's pretty solid. I'll give you a fiver to take her. P.S. Keep this quiet from the missus, won't you. Brian

Julia Hi You need to break the clay up (it will be a back breaker but it needs to be done) and the bes way to do this is to add as much well rotted horse manure as you possibly can (at least two year old) and some pea gravel to create drainage channels. I am a horticulturist and deal with problems like this every day at work. Remember the more "organic matter" the better as this will add some nourishment back into the soil. regards

Tracy, being a pro grower ,could you tell me if you can still get hold of seeds for the pyrethium daisy please?Ive lost mine and they were so handy for keeping the bugs down,i just used to move them every two years which left the insecticide in the soil.Fred.

Hi Brian, Make that a cool £100 for your moggy and I might take you up, I'm sure my G S D would like a play mate. Julia