Re: thanks for ideas for sun-blasted parking strip et al.
Joe Seals wrote:
>
> I'm a firm believer in "right plant, right place". I
> think most everyone in this forum believes in the same
> -- that's one of the primary reasons (if not THE
> reason) folks here grow "Mediterranean-climate"
> plants. They're climate "appropriate".
>
> That principle also extends to soils.
>
> I'm not sure what you mean by "cruddy subsoil". If,
> in fact, you have something left over after ALL
> topsoil has been removed and something that has
> probably been compacted to a nearly-concrete density
> by heavy machinery, then you do have a tough
> situation. Not an impossible one, however.
>
> Do not amend what you have nor remove and replace what
> you have. They are only short-term answers and can
> lead to problems down the road. Plus, it's a lot of
> work.
>
> Just about everything that the forum members have
> recommended for your hot spot are adaptable to most
> any soil and will do well even in hard, nearly sterile
> soil. Their roots will fill the soil and make the
> most of it. They will reach deeply and will become
> more drought tolerant than if in amended soils.
>
> Amending (or replacing) will create conditions ripe
> for weeds and will cause watering issues in the
> future.
>
> Also, think about the fact that most plants,
> especially the Mediterraneans that are naturally
> drought tolerant, have roots that reach down 3 feet at
> a minimum and usually as much as 10-20 feet. Even the
> small critters. Do you plan to amend the soil that
> deeply, or worse, replace that much soil?
>
> Yes, your newly planted plants won't look as "vibrant"
> nor shoot into new growth as readily as if they were
> given a little amended soil. But that's the lying
> tease of amended soils. (snip)
>
(growing lusicous plants on dry river sand and some
> construction waste)
Joe
While seeing were you are coming from, I wonder if you are not being a
bit too "Calvanistic" is your demands on the plants. If it were a
natural soil in the area, I could agree with the idea of just letting
the plants do all the work, but compacted subsoil is another matter as I
feel only the tougest or most lucky plant, however suited to poor soil
in the area, is going to make a successful landing here, while the
majority will sicken and die before they can get established. I see you
yourself are growing in river sand plus, but at least this mix is
presumably easily penetratable by roots and being, I suppose, near the
river which laid it down actually has water somewhere underneath which
the questing roots can reach. I would say this was a much more friendly
environment than concrete-hard subsoil, with no guarantee of any prize
of water below..
As the object of the exercise is I gather to make a pretty garden, not
to test the toughness of the plants, my inclination would be at least to
loosen the soil without disturbing it further (a fork thrust in deeply
maybe) and to top it with some amelioration such as a mix of sand and
compost just to get the planting going. The compost should start
softening the layers below the surface and the sand would help in this.
I don't think this would be enough coddling to create effete plants not
capable of looking after themselves by deep rooting, but at the same
time would give them a better chance to get safely established.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
