Very general question about soil

[Halloween Jack]

Hi folks,

I have a bit in the garden that gets good light but most plants including rosemary and hydrangeas don't do very well. The rosemary is sparse and pale and the hydrangea has stopped flowering.

I wondered if it was poor soil or perhaps the plants are having to compete too much with nearby trees? I've never put feed or fertiliser down and it's a very clay like soil.

As a very general thing what should I do or try first to help these plants look more healthy?

And is it too late in the year now? Should I wait till next spring?

I'm in the UK

Thanks

 

[wrathkeg]

don't know about hydrangeas (don't grow them) but ideally rosemary should be sheltered, in plenty of sun, and in well drained soil: remember it's a mediterranean herb. if it's sitting in wet soil it will be unhappy. when planting you can improve the drainage in heavy soil like clay by digging in a bucket of sharp sand where you are going to plant it. it seems a ridiculous thing to do, but in my experience it works very well. it shouldn't need feeding.

 

[Halloween Jack]

Thanks for that. Makes sense.

I dug in sand to help the lawn and it really helped. I think it was a drainage and compacted issue there too.

Cheers.