Joanne wrote:
The problem is with the soil in the borders. You can't get a garden fork
or
a spade into the soil at all. It's absolutely impossible to plant bulbs
or
even the smallest perennial. The soil is rock hard and full of shallow
(but
thin) roots, which I presume are from the trees or shrubs. The soil is so
bad that several spades and forks have been broken trying to dig into it.

I had this problem with one of my borders - but I found that trying it in
the spring when the soil is wet is doable - then add lots of soil improver.

ROSIE