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With late summer now upon us most gardeners are beginning to look forward to next season. The summer here in England has been one of the wettest on record, although quite warm. The sun has made infrequent appearances, but leaving me with a lot less watering to do. Just as well, considering the large number of plants in containers I have. I much prefer the typical 'English summer' characterised by sun with frequent rain enabling hard pressed gardeners like myself to enjoy the garden for once!
With high summer behind us, coupled with shorter days, my mind is now turning to the soil beneath my feet. Late summer is an ideal season to evaluate the performance of plants within the garden. We all make impulse purchases of new and exciting plants each spring and summer, which are hastily installed in any bare patch and often forgotten. Little thought being given to their requirements as to situation, aspect, soil types and so on. Unhappy plants are usually unhealthy plants and with a little attention to detail are easy to spot and diagnose. Very often the problem can be easily solved by simply moving the plant to a more suitable situation, but often more radical measures are called for. Many new gardens that come with newly built housing is often no more than a mixture of sub soil with a heavy dose of builders rubble. To install plants into such a soil is only asking for trouble and disappointment. Faced with this sort of growing medium, the only short-term solution is to import topsoil, often at considerable cost. The other and less costly option is to improve the soil with as much organic material you can lay your hands on. This is of course a slow and often time-consuming labour of love, but one which gives the greater satisfaction. It is also a never-ending responsibility requiring attention each year. |
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