Re: soil for australian plants

Angela Lee wrote:
Hi,

I just purchased some Australian plants (Leucadendron 'Red gem', Regelia megacephala, and an Eremophila) and would like some advice on soil amendments.

I live in Los Angeles, 2 miles from the coast, with clay soil. I need to add 4 inches of something (gravel, sand, compost, leaf mold?) to bring the planting bed up to the level of the pavement. What would be the best amendment for the Australian plants?
Gravel and sand laced with leafmould and a little compost sounds very suitable,especially with the clay beneath. Australia is a land of very worn-down soils and distinctly deficient in phosphorus. As a consequence most Australian plants are best with minimum phosphate in the soil and quite low general fertility coupled with excellent drainage..

Moira

--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS ADDED 20/Feb/2005

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