subsoil

[doc]

Hello all
Having dug up the topsoil I have only subsoil on a large portion at the end of my garden. I have tried to grow stuff by digging in some compost but with only modest success. I'd like to be to put the land to better use next year. Is there an economical efficient guaranteed way of improving the soil? i know green manure will help but that isnt really enough on it's own.

[vicky]

I'm not sure why you would remove the topsoil? But there must be a good reason!

Dig in everything you can get in the way of compost, leaf mould, spent growbags etc. Have you tried looking on freecycle - there's often ad's for topsoil

You could make raised beds then at least you would just be filling them?

[doc]

The reason i removed the topsoil is that i had an incredibly uneven garden and wanted it levelled. The slope was towards the house and it really was awful. I had to get a man with a mini digger and part with 600 quid to get it done
dont really want to spend more than i have to now
thanks for the advice Vicky ..will look around freecycle and do the other stuff you suggest

[rustylady]

You might have been better having it terraced than levelled.

[NOG]

You will not grow anything in subsoil....You can make an inch of topsoil a year by adding Compost.

I would get all the leaves, grass cuttings and anyother greenstuff I could find and spread it over like a mulch andthen add compost.

[Snadger]

I wouldn't have paid the guy who levelled your garden! He should have removed all the topsoil first and stored it in low heaps. Then the garden should have been levelled and finally the topsoil replaced!

As NOG say's..........you will never make subsoil into topsoil whatever you do with it. You can maybe improve it slightly but that's all.

[NOG]

The old time gardeners used to be able to make an Inch of topsoil a year in walled gardens....but they did have up to 20 gardeners...the garden was in use 365 per year and everyone had horses...

[Two_Sheds]

The reason i removed the topsoil is that i had an incredibly uneven garden

The chap should have removed the subsoil and replaced the topsoil. What happened to the topsoil?
Did he sell it to someone else?

[doc]

Not really Two Sheds. He dug it up from the far end and brought it to the front - so i now have a more or less level ground with subsoil at the far end

[NOG]

So you should have about 2 foot of great soil at one end.

[doc]

yep i do

[shirlthegirl43]

So you should have about 2 foot of great soil at one end.

yep i do

Oh well, that's easy - grow your veggies at the back door and have the lawn further back

[NOG]

Yep....especally if you use turf.....you can put down 2 inch of compost and then turf it....or and I hate to say it.....Raised beds.

[doc]

Veggies at the back door??
my OH will probably kill me before she lets me do that!

[shirlthegirl43]

Veggies at the back door??
my OH will probably kill me before she lets me do that!

Not once she has sampled the joys of home grown veggies