Improving soil around fruit trees

[purplekat]

The soil in my garden is pretty much clay, it was left to grass for a long time so the soil is pretty poor (especially with a big oak tree in a nearby garden)
I now have quite a few fruit trees planted but was wondering how to improve the soil. I keep top dressing the rest of the garden with garden compost but avoiding putting it too close to the fruit trees as I'm thinking it will cause too much leafy growth
I know leaf mould would be good but don't have any...any other suggestions would be gratefully received

[rustylady]

I don't see why you can't use garden compost as a mulch. I presume you mean the homemade stuff, not MCP.

[Kleftiwallah]

I cover the areas between my pear and apple trees with 'oss muck' when I can get it and there is enough to spare. Just waiting for the grape hiascinths to die back. Cheers, Tony.

[purplekat]

Yeah, I mean the homemade compost. I may just continue spreading that around then. Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

You should be mulching, yes. Garden compost, lovely. Just make sure you water the soil well prior to mulching, so the moisture is trapped

[kathyd]

I put fresh grass cuttings around some of our's a couple of years ago since it was the only thing I had at the time, and I kept the layer thin to avoid too much heat or squelchiness. Also didn't touch the tree trunks. I wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing to do at the time, but the trees had a fab harvest the following year! Maybe someone can advise if I was just lucky, or if fresh grass clippings are generally OK to use please?

[Two_Sheds]

grass clippings are always good as a mulch

- left in thin layers on lawns they feed the lawn
- on spuds as a mulch, means you don't have to earth up
- on carrots it should help to deter carrot fly damage
- on onions as a mulch, keeps weeds down

and on, and on ...