Improving drainage and soil quality in flower bed

[hardheadedwoman]

I have a 1m by 1m flower bed which I filled with topsoil and added some shrubs. Despite feeding regularly and adding manure the plants are not thriving. The plot gets good sun so I don’t think it’s the position that is the problem.

The soil looks quite compacted and I am regretting using topsoil.

I assume I’ll need to dig out the shrubs I’ve planted in order the address the soil?

If I do this, I was thinking of adding some sand and John Innes no 3. Do I next it all together? Then replant.

Any advice very welcome I am not a very experienced gardener!

You can improve the soil by adding a mulch each year, and leave it for the worms to mix in. I use garden compost, but other mulches are available.

Three thoughts about why the shrubs aren't surviving

1. 1m x 1m is enough space for one shrub unless what you mean is small things like lavender bushes

2. the manure may not have been matured, in which case the strong animal residues may be upsetting the plants. If you're feeding regularly and adding manure, you are possibly over-feeding.

3. have you been watering regularly when there hasn't been rain? Shrubs need help in their first year while they're still building up their root system.

Hi thanks for replying

I planted a baby holly bush and buddleigh they are quite far apart. I haven’t tried mulch I will get some! Interesting about the manure I didn’t think about over feeding. I’ll try the mulch - if I use this shall I stop feeding separately?

Thanks again MereDintofPandiculation

I would stop feeding. I feed only the things that are in containers.

What shrubs have you planted?

They are a holly bush and buddleigh

I would just weed and leave alone. Shrubs take a while to get going sometimes.

They'll be a bit squashed when they get larger - you'll reach a time when you may want to remove one. But for the time being you'll need both to fill the space. Yes, leave them alone and stop worrying about them. They'll spend most of their first season developing a good root system, it's next year you should be looking for growth.

Sorry, I didn't see you'd already said what bushes they were.

I agree I think watering is probably key here. New plants need really careful watering when first establishing and that will be more important than feeding.

Topsoil is likely fine to fill the bed with. If you haven't been walking on it, it shouldn't be compacted. If you're really concerned, dig a knitting needle or similar into the soil and wiggle it about a bit to loosen.

No need to dig up your plants to improve the soil. Add a layer of mulch on top of the bed and the worms will take it down. If the soil is really compacted, add a bit of perlite in with the compost - it's done wonders for my heavy clay soil.

But honestly check the plants every couple of days to see if they need watering and that will most likely be all you need

Great advice thank you for your replies