Poor soil in part of garden-What should I do?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
plexippus Chicago Suburbs, IL(Zone 5b) May 11, 2009

I have a section of my garden where the soil is not as nice as I would like it to be, it is really compacted and slow draining. I have perennials planted there and some do very well and others not so well. I have given up trying to coddle a couple of my favorite types of plants that should, in theory, do well in that spot. I was thinking in the fall I could dig up the dormant plants and try to amend the soil and replant everything. Is that a really bad idea, are there alternatives, or should I just leave it be and accept the fact I have compacted slow draining soil in that spot?

Post #6533713
Quote
mocatmom Driftwood, TX(Zone 8b) May 11, 2009

See the thread just recently added in this same forum on "Lasagna Gardening" - that may be your solution. You don't even need to remove the established plants - just contruct your strip composting (lasagna garden) around them. You can use a few layers of newspaper instead of cardboard since you're not needing to kill turf - you just want to encourage earthworm activity.

It's the lazy man's way of amending soil, but it does a good job of it.

Post #6533788
Quote
msrobin Caneyville, KY(Zone 6b) May 12, 2009

To elaborate a little on Mocatmom's suggestion....you could dig small holes and bury kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy stuff, and you don't have to cover it much dirt) around the bed. Start adding mulch, such as grass clippings in thin layers so they can dry and fall leaves that you've mowed over. Doing this will attract more earthworms and they will really loosen up the soil.

Last year I wanted to plant some corn and green beans, but didn't have any room in the original garden. I did nothing to the new garden area with pretty compacted clay soil, didn't till, and I didn't even remove the grass. I poked holes in the soil to plant the seeds. As soon as they sprouted, I layed a few inches of dried grass clippings on the rows around the baby plants. This spring, I can dig down about 6" in loose soil with my hand.

Post #6539317
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP