tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post6622589041186159688..comments2023-09-29T10:04:33.858+01:00Comments on Roger Brook - the no dig gardener: My hydrophobic sandy soilRoger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-43153474574014050252014-02-05T22:48:15.949+00:002014-02-05T22:48:15.949+00:00Very diplomatic Roger. In agriculture the biggest ...Very diplomatic Roger. In agriculture the biggest problem was the use of heavy machinery plus the depth of cultivation which would always create a pan, hence the use of subsoilers or in America "sod busters" which as you know were great big "hooks" that broke up the compacted sub-soil. The cereal growers here in the UK used a minimum depth for ploughing to create a tilth in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-2849291714558111202014-02-05T17:30:57.706+00:002014-02-05T17:30:57.706+00:00When my own college notes mentioned podsols I then...When my own college notes mentioned podsols I then thought they were of academic interest only. It was only when I discovered a true iron pan in my Auntie Doris's garden in Huddersfield forty years ago did I know they were real. With my own students I concentrated more on compaction pans which are much more common in gardens (not in nature)Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-5736214387387394842014-02-03T19:50:48.859+00:002014-02-03T19:50:48.859+00:00Interesting post as usual Roger, I have clay soil ...Interesting post as usual Roger, I have clay soil but there are bands of "sand" running through it which certainly do not add to its drainage properties. I loved your remark about raised beds looking like a timber yard, it really gets my goat when Don is waffling on about his raised beds in front of his brand new state of the art glass house which together will have cost a fortune. To Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-64833890137262297152014-01-31T16:14:32.891+00:002014-01-31T16:14:32.891+00:00Yes Mark, most sandy soils are coarser grained tha...Yes Mark, most sandy soils are coarser grained than mine and hold very little water. I have not seen my garden for over two weeks but am about to return to cold wet UK!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-61868420313682061202014-01-31T09:46:38.744+00:002014-01-31T09:46:38.744+00:00My soil is sandy too. It dries out far too rapidly...My soil is sandy too. It dries out far too rapidly for my liking. I have added lots of organic matter to it over the years, but it hasn't really altered the soil properties that much. At least it seldom gets waterlogged, which is a distinct advantage in current weather conditions!Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-86935494037461847172014-01-30T17:36:43.762+00:002014-01-30T17:36:43.762+00:00Thanks for that.Thanks for that.Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03928188713843255078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-67788131497720187862014-01-30T14:03:58.726+00:002014-01-30T14:03:58.726+00:00You're slipping, RogerYou're slipping, RogerSue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-16956931181185872922014-01-30T13:18:50.130+00:002014-01-30T13:18:50.130+00:00Our sand is an ancient alluvial river deposit fro...Our sand is an ancient alluvial river deposit from the river Derwent and eight foot of sand overlies clay!<br />I have read on your blog about your own positive attitude to drainage!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-40687140097316731852014-01-30T13:13:40.662+00:002014-01-30T13:13:40.662+00:00I looked it up Sue to see if I could manage a chee...I looked it up Sue to see if I could manage a cheeky reply but failed. Alcohol is quite hydrophilic so I gave you and Martyn a metaphorical 'cheers' as I had a last drink before I returned from my exotic holiday that will be the subject of my next few posts!Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-85767666073375794692014-01-30T13:09:29.105+00:002014-01-30T13:09:29.105+00:00Hello L!
If you are on the coast you will have pro...Hello L!<br />If you are on the coast you will have problems with salt and wind but the small advantage of being able to grow less hardy plants - but in East Yorks nothing to get excited about. We frequently cross the E.Yorkshire Wolds to get plants at Reighton Nurseries- wonderful. Fuchsia, hebe, cistus and phlomis spring to mind. Really it is best to walk round your locality and see what grows Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-14384980669899162432014-01-30T03:34:09.399+00:002014-01-30T03:34:09.399+00:00I can relate to the surprises the soil of a new ga...I can relate to the surprises the soil of a new garden can offer. The problem I now have is that in winter the water table is very high. That is a plus in the rest of the year but in winter it causes problems. My old garden had 5 foot of top soil in places (it was a former river bed) my new one has very shallow soil. But as you say it is a challenge and new conditions bring new opportunities.rochefleuriegardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06783773632775842680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-37666502646753098652014-01-29T17:48:47.306+00:002014-01-29T17:48:47.306+00:00Ours is just the opposite hydrophilic? Too hydroph...Ours is just the opposite hydrophilic? Too hydrophilic at the moment.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571100417242238211.post-27219765709952482112014-01-29T17:09:17.493+00:002014-01-29T17:09:17.493+00:00I have a small patch on the East Yorkshire Coast ...I have a small patch on the East Yorkshire Coast which is very sandy. I have two raised beds with potting compost which do well, bulbs are fine too and hostas don't get eaten by snails Any other suggestions for small shrubs or perennials would be appreciated.Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03928188713843255078noreply@blogger.com