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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 11:04:08 GMT
I want to go outside and dig, and plant things, and sow seeds, and rearrange my border, and generally interfere! BUT, I garden on heavy clay, and the ground is sodden. Please convince me that the best thing I can do at the moment is leave well alone  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 9, 2008 11:07:39 GMT
Can I come and help please..................ooops sorry that isn't what you wanted to hear was it!!
RF
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 11:25:07 GMT
Naughty RF!  ;D |
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Post by andy on Jan 9, 2008 11:31:00 GMT
If you work clay soil too much when its wet, you will ruin the structure of the soil and it will require an awful lot of organic matter to put things right. Clay soil is designed to be dug rough in autumn and then left until spring for the weather to break down the big clods. Now get over my knee and brace yourself ;D   |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 11:35:31 GMT
Wahey!! ;D
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Post by Plocket on Jan 9, 2008 12:50:28 GMT
I don't know how to stop you RM - I'm reasonably happy to let my garden do it's own thing through winter - I've got clay soil too btw! How about thinking about a project that you could do during the winter? Have you got space for a raised bed? That way you could fill it with compost and it would be more workable during the winter.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 14:16:14 GMT
Ooh! Thanks Plocket ;D I don't have room, but I could maybe make room...I wonder if I could fit in a greenhouse, too?  |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 9, 2008 14:19:07 GMT
Hehehe! Well it's got you thinking anyway!!! ;D
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 9, 2008 16:17:59 GMT
RM,to be a good gardener,you need patience,more so when working heavy clay,im lucky as i have brick earth which drys out quicker,so keep off till its dry,or ill give you the same treatment as Andy. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 16:26:17 GMT
Ok. That's me told! ;D |
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 9, 2008 18:22:23 GMT
Nah not so fast.
I too have the glue and concrete soil and when ever there is a bare patch ( they are the most visible in winter somehow ;D )
I get breaker sand and sort of mulch ( not very thick just one milimeter ) my bare patches ( hm that sounds like something very personal ;D )
I then carefully rake in ( yes do try not to stand on the soil ) and slowly over the years the sand does not diminish the food in the soil but breaks up the clay and makes it much more workable.
In summer the trick is different. I infill the cracks with same breaker sand and once the clay gets wet again the sand is worked in without me having to do any hard work.
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Post by snowowl on Jan 9, 2008 21:00:24 GMT
Blimey RM now see what youv started  |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jan 10, 2008 8:35:01 GMT
Nah not so fast. I too have the glue and concrete soil and when ever there is a bare patch ( they are the most visible in winter somehow ;D ) I get breaker sand and sort of mulch ( not very thick just one milimeter ) my bare patches ( hm that sounds like something very personal ;D ) I then carefully rake in ( yes do try not to stand on the soil ) and slowly over the years the sand does not diminish the food in the soil but breaks up the clay and makes it much more workable. In summer the trick is different. I infill the cracks with same breaker sand and once the clay gets wet again the sand is worked in without me having to do any hard work. That sounds like great advice Dutchy! I do a lot of standing, scratching my head and sighing when I see what extremes of weather do to my garden! I've chucked loads of grit sand in to a huge clay based bed last winter and waited for frost to do its job too - we didn't get any at the time!!!! So, it's more sand then with not very much effort - I like that ;D |
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 10, 2008 9:08:20 GMT
Frost has become frickle these years ;D And the Summer trick seems to be getting more and more possibilities as summers get hotter and (well not last year) drier. No effort but good effect is always something to be heading for |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 10, 2008 17:07:13 GMT
I want to get out and dig too...but it's sodden and claggy....I managed to make myself feel a bit better by top dressing the beds with 2 bags of last year's compost...looks quite nice...
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