My Garden patch thats needs revitalizing

[Tarragon2017]

no bluebells there actually

[vixylix]

Bluebells like the shade - why don't you replant the ones that you've dug out there?

p.s. at this rate you'll have beaten VC's post count before the end of the year!

[Nicos]

That's good news!

Stones or pebbles?...pebbles make a nice feature when used as a mulch!

[Jay-ell]

Post photos of the pebbles/stones - we may be able to give suggestions of what to do with them

[Bigmallly]

I wouldn't grow near trees, the roots are a pain & also they take the moisture from the soil.

[Tarragon2017]

Its all i got so i got to try , if i fail ill stick to containers , cant say i didnt try

[Nicos]

Very true!
You might find whatever you grow becomes leggy, searching for light.
I once grew spuds under trees...they had marble sized spuds and about 8ft of top growth(flopped over sideways)!

[Tarragon2017]

Where they not very good ?

[Nicos]

Marble sized?.....dry as a bone...utter rubbish!
Maybe if I'd watered it more they may have got bigger, but they put all their energy into the top growth instead.
everyone's garden...soil, light levels, microclimate is different so trying for yourself is always a good thing....

There are two ways of finding things out....
One, try it yourself
Two, learn from other people's experiences

[Tarragon2017]

The sieved soil looks good but its just so compacted at the moment and the stones some are huge but I am slowly sorting it out and feel very tired and my life is very busy with work and family life.

one small point how is my ratio of 1/3 coco coir , 1/3 soil compost , 1/3 grit for my herbsin containers

[Greenleaves]

You need to set a couple of hours aside and sort it, give it a rough turn to losen things up a bit, I still think you need to considered raised beds if you don't have the time or the topsoil is too shallow.

From the questions you are asking it appears you are trying to run before you can walk.

Getting the preparation right is key in my opinion and I also have a few concerns over light levels in your garden. How much sun does that area get?

[Tarragon2017]

To be honest I am not sure but I have grown Rhubbarb there before and chillis maybe i was just lucky

[Greenleaves]

Might be worth checking next time we have sunny day

[Tarragon2017]

I think its sunny in places very early till around midday then it moves to where my containers are, as this is the only space I got I will just need to try and if it doesnt work stick to containers

[Mitzi]

I second the suggestion to replant the bluebells, which you've dug out from the sunny spot, under the trees where there's no sun. Your soil might be London clay as it sounds heavy and compacted from what you've said. In which case, you have no chance whatsoever of getting lavender to thrive in a shady spot.

I recommend spending the bank holiday weekend binge-watching as many episodes as you can download of Gardeners World.