Hi from a newbie

[Johnny Appleseed]

Hello - I've just joined and look forward to being part of the forum.

I've always been interested in gardening - but never found enough time to really do the things I wanted apart from the basic lawn and border maintenance.

We've got an awful London clay soil - it's waterlogged all winter and rock hard with a cracked surface in the summer.

Anyway, that's all for now - I look forward to being a member from now on.

All the best - Johnny

[Two_Sheds]

We've got an awful London clay soil - it's waterlogged all winter and rock hard with a cracked surface in the summer.

hello too.
you'll be wanting to put lots of well-rotted garden compost into your beds then

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks Two Sheds - I have 2 compost bins on the go at the moment - so as soon as they are ready the border will be their final destination. They have lots of red worms wriggling inside which appear to have taken up residence without any help from me.

Should I keep some back ready to start the new bins with? Sorry if that's a basic question - I am fairly new to this.

[Stacey Steve]

Welcome, I was quite used to the good old London Clay when I had my first house in East London, even then I made raised beds in the garden, my first attempt at bricklaying and when I looked at the house of one of the satellite shots they are still there, so couldn't have been that bad.

When you start off a new compost bin, when the first lot starts to rot down a bit, then transfer some of your worms across. They are possibly Tendras(?) that live in the top few inches of compost and are one of the normal worms to used in wormeries.

Best of luck

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks Stacey Steve - my wife has been "suggesting" raised beds for a while now - but only my awful bricklaying skills are holding me back. May have to get some old railway sleepers and spike them together.

[lumpyjumper]

Welcome Johnny Appleseed,

I used Decking boards for my raised beds and they've been brilliant

Lumpyjumper

[Johnny Appleseed]

Hi Lumpyjumper - I like that one - many thanks