I love my rhododendrons and heathers, you can make your own Ericaceous compost, but I find it takes forever being very slow to compost. Best buy some ready made if you have only neutral compost available now, you'll find it at most GCs.
Thanks Edd for tip regards pine needles , have a large pine tree I can maybe use the crunched up comes too, what do you think
I won't use peat, restassured I live on the edge of the moores and was in support with the group who objected to the peat works near us when they were extracting huge amounts from the moor.
Caroline flint mp was objecting too amongst the group ,and got herself arrested, caused a bit of excitement.also around that time our cottage was very well guarded .the black Mariah was outside full of the . "Men in uniform " fom teatime onwards just in case of any trouble from the protesters
There are peat free ericaceous composts on the market, though you will have to shop around. Much quicker than composting pine needles is bracken if it is available locally. (which is also what makes the peat free composts you can buy I think).
Your soil might be fine Gran as Edd says, it's only people like me who love acid loving plants but are silly enough to live on Essex clay, that have to buy it in.
Heathers grow in very poor, very acidic soil in the New Forest around here. Not always very well drained either. Hard pan just below surface.
The poor soil is one of the reasons William 1 was able to find a large tract of land in the South of England that was not cultivated to any great extent.
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Most heathers like good drainage Cangran, so I'd mix some grit and compost with it first
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I love my rhododendrons and heathers, you can make your own Ericaceous compost, but I find it takes forever being very slow to compost. Best buy some ready made if you have only neutral compost available now, you'll find it at most GCs.
Some heathers aren't acid lovers though - so just check which ones you have before you plant!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you everyone , good thing I asked
I was going to use leaf mould for several things in pots and a mulch for the azaleas etc.I will think again,
Thanks Edd for tip regards pine needles , have a large pine tree I can maybe use the crunched up comes too, what do you think
I won't use peat, restassured I live on the edge of the moores and was in support with the group who objected to the peat works near us when they were extracting huge amounts from the moor.
Caroline flint mp was objecting too amongst the group ,and got herself arrested, caused a bit of excitement.also around that time our cottage was very well guarded .the black Mariah was outside full of the . "Men in uniform " fom teatime onwards just in case of any trouble from the protesters
There are peat free ericaceous composts on the market, though you will have to shop around. Much quicker than composting pine needles is bracken if it is available locally. (which is also what makes the peat free composts you can buy I think).
Your soil might be fine Gran as Edd says, it's only people like me who love acid loving plants but are silly enough to live on Essex clay, that have to buy it in.
Heathers grow in very poor, very acidic soil in the New Forest around here. Not always very well drained either. Hard pan just below surface.
The poor soil is one of the reasons William 1 was able to find a large tract of land in the South of England that was not cultivated to any great extent.