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, does it improve the soil etc ? Am interested in anybody's direct experience with this. Thanks. I fear you will either end up with a soggy mat-full of unwelcome visitors- or it will blow all over the place Far better to let it rot down in the compost

to improve any new bed that I start, which is usually from removing more of the lawn! J.

and bone and mulched around the base with home made compost each autumn to improve the soil. It looks vera healthy so I don't know why it won't fruit.  Is it still too young or have I picked a temperamental variety? Any advice is welcome. Thank you!

perennials such as couch grass or ground elder.Cover your bin with carpet to keep it warm and to help speed up the composting process.Improving the quality of your soilVideo guide on making compost, with Chris BeardshawImproving your soil with green manure

can do to improve drainage before I cut my losses and pave the lot please? I'd wait a bit. Everything is so wet you'd have nowhere to drain it to. Keep poking holes, every 4 inches if poss and then brush in some sharp sand to aid drainage

Hello there. I wonder if someone could clear something up for me. I'm sure I've heard of sharp sand being used to improve the drainage qualities of soil, so today when potting a new plant I added some to the compost. But when I started watering

and sticky when wet and hard as iron when dry. So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. The tough answer is that you will have your pick of plants ( except the ericaceous) if you improve your soil. When I started I could not get a fork in the ground

perlite-dont understand why you would I have never used it either, it seems a bit expensive and always get good results with seed/cutting/follow on compost only. And I think it never decomposes either-so it is there for good It is supposed to improve

, on the other beings that use such a habitat, seem not to arouse as much interest. Do not despair Richard, your writings have inspired me to purchase a book on British insects, and as soon as the weather improves, I shall start turning over stones and leaves

 again - the last time was on the 'old site' when I had a query about pyracantha - I followed your advice re. feeding and pruning and the plants are much improved, thank you. My pleasure, Pinkpeony. Nice to see another old face