The message
from michelestokes contains
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We have just bought a new property in Northern Ireland and the garden is
causing us nightmares. The soil is very peaty and is black in colour. It
also retains a lot of water, but has a tendancy to crust over in hotter
weather.

At the moment the garden is a blank canvas as we have no idea what to
do with it. We would like to plant a lawn and have some colour in the
garden. Can anyone offer any advise on how to work with the garden and
maybe any recommendations for lawn and plant types?

It depends on just how much work you are prepared to do: you could drain
it, and the best people to ask about that is a local(ish) agricultural
contractor.

In any case, I'd give the lawny bits plenty of ground chalk and sharp
sand, and dig it in. The worms will take care of mixing it.

The beds depend on what you intend growing, but some well-rotted manure
usually goes down well, but that won't adjust the pH a lot.

The traditional treatment for peaty soil is to drag the thatch from your
house in the late spring - what's that? Your house isn't......

Oh well, put all your weeding and vegetable waste on a compost heap, and
if you can get it, add stable or byre cleanings, and again, if you can
get it, add lots of seaweed from the beach - stuff which has been washed
ashore - you don't need to harvest it from its habitat.

That's the traditional way crofters used to treat peaty soil, and
believe me, it works.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
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