Ask Gerry
Trees and Shrubs : Soil
1 - 6 of 18 answer(s)
Waterlogging
We have heavy clay soil so we dug a trench about 3ft deep around the edge of the garden and replaced with topsoil. Now our soil is constantly waterlogged and it's impossible to dig. So far we have one photinia in the soil but I can see that could fall over easily as it can't grip the soil. Please help!
Thankyou
mickhetty, Harlow, Posted: 28/01/2012
The problem is poor drainage and it sounds like it is draining into the place you dug out.
Heavy soil can get very soggy if drainage is not good. Drain to a ditch or other outlet, make a herring bone pattern of land drains, back-filled with stone or gravel, to within about 30cm of the surface.
If you have no outlet, drain to a soak-pit to take the water away.
More at: http://www.garden.ie/gardeningskills.aspx?id=553
trees/shrubs suitable for wet site
we have a wet site, even after draining. any ideas as to what to plant?
carolineom, Dromkeen, Co Limerick Posted: 20/09/2011
There are some trees and shrubs that succeed.... alder, willow, dogwood, but the choice is limited. There are more perennials but wet gorund makes use of the garden difficult.
More choices at: http://www.garden.ie/plantdirectory.aspx
copper beech leaves turning yellow
My copper beech leaves have been turning yellow for quite a few months now and it just generally looks dull and hasn't grown at all this year.. could it be that its roots are too constrained in the bed its in?
170820092, Dublin , Co Dublin Posted: 20/09/2011
Beech suffers drought if the ground is dry because it is surface -rooting. This is a site problem. no watering can solve this.
Problem with hedge without leaves
We have a copper beech hedge which did not grow any leaves this year. It is just over a year old and was quite mature when planted (4 ft high). The buds appeared this Spring but the leaves never grew, and many of the buds appear to have died off. In most cases the plants have sap (as evidenced by scratching the stem and revealing green) which indicates to me that they are living?? Please advise as there are many opinions but I really don't know what is correct. The soil is well drained and these plants were in full leaf last summer?
Garry, Fermoy, Co Cork Posted: 04/07/2011
The normal problem, and still the most likely, is winter waterlogging. This occurs when the water table in the soil rises in winter, an dbeech is very susceptible to this problem.
The only other possibility is inadvertent weedkiller spray damage, and even then there should be some effort to grow back.
Pieris
I have a pieris in the garden for roughly four years and it does not seem to have grown. There is new growth beginning which has bright red leaves. The old leaves are a yellow colour and it has never flowered. It is planted in the front of the garden which gets full sun. I have a south west facing garden. Perhaps this is the reason as I have another pieris which is in partial shade in a pot in the front of the house and has flowered and is doing well. Should I move it and when would be the best time.
Rathgar, , Co Dublin Posted: 21/06/2011
Pieris is an acid-lover and your soil, being in Dublin, is limy. The one in the pot is presumably in lime-free compost.
Mulch with lots of pine needles or bark to help acidify the soil and conserve moisture.
clematis dying
I had two beautiful Clematis Montana grandiflora (CM Alba) planted three years ago. Up to this year the two of them were growing well with a beautiful fragrance, then this spring one of them didn't grow any leaves etc, and I think it was because of a dog that moved in next door about 6 months ago, and possibly used the soil at the other side of the fence for a toilet. Is there any point of planting another Clematis, or has the soil been destroyed. If I plant another clematis Is there anything I could add to the soil to prevent the same happening?
Marianne, Dundalk, Co Louth Posted: 10/05/2011
While it is possible that is unlikely to be the cause. It is more likely that winter waterlogging or a root rot is to blame. The other plants will probably fill the space.