Hi there, I hope I posted this in the right place, I’d like to plant a lot of fruit trees, I moved to this place less than a year ago, the garden is like a blank page, its not huge garden, but it just lawn on it, so I need to dig the side border (about 15 metres long x 70cm) this is for a start, I have the other side and few other beds to dig later, I am not a gardener myself, and never dug any soil. I tried to dig yesterday, but its been hot and the soil was so solid, I am told I need to ensure its very moist for easier digging. Can any gardeners’ enthusiast here gives me hint on how to make the digging easier? I already bought a few fruit trees and want to plant them, there are many good bargains for various trees and would like to get as many as I can, not sure if I am being ambitious doing this project on my own, but I know there are plenty of professional women gardeners, so I presume its not impossible for me to dig the garden on my own??
Any tips, help would be greatly appreciated.
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Don't know Ashleigh, but that would be a really good group, it will make it easier for expert and begginer gardeners to exchange stories and tips.
I saw loads of tomato plants on sale the other week, but wasn't sure about how to care for them, trees and roses are easy, and don't require a huge amount of work.
Same as building a house if you only do half the work and without knowledge don't be surprised if the results aren't what you expect. The better start you give your trees the better results you will get.
Planting a tree causes immense stress to it and that can make it vulnerable to disease and failure to thrive. Dry weather will also stress the tree.
Sorry, that won't be it; it needs constant tlc and pruning (dependent on type) and pollinating (dependent on type; it may need a complimentary tree) and removal of blossom its first couple of years to make it concentrate on roots to get it properly established.
For shrubs you should often cut off at least two thirds of the top cover (foliage) so the plant will get established quickly.
Buy one of the many books at the bookshop or garden centre.
Not sleepers (they're pretty toxic), necessarily, loads of people on my allotment use old pallet wood, I used reclaimed wood and some people used floorboards, decking or old scaffold boards. Mine are only 6" high.
http://www.raisedbedgardener.com/picture-gallery.htm
You don't even need edging for raised beds either and they have some advantages for shade and sun where you just have a long mound as long as you like and 1.2m wide so you can reach the middle.
Don't really know what you understood by the word sleeprs, but the link showed what I meant, I prefer old rocks (cottagie kind) to raise the bed instead of the wood, B&Q had wooden sleepers, but I didn't like that, I got used to irregular old rocks/stones with plants shooting in between lol
this will give you an idea, but this is too neat and tidy, I prefer a very old irregular borders
http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com/raised-flower-beds.html
Raised beds are to save on weeding and make like easier so no winter digging is required.
If you can't reach every part of your fruit and veg border without trading on it you will have to dig every winter as you will be compacting the soil.
Try the african keyhole raised bed if you like irregular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhHvz8wWr_A
Your first spec. was for ease.
Anything to stop you having to dig or walk on the soil is good (except for brussels which like to be hard trod in)
I have raised beds (only 6" high) to maintain soil structure and not ruin it as
1/ I don't want to dig the plot every year
2/ I keep treading on the wrong places and compacting it.
I have put a part wicking bed in for my celery to make sure they are well hydrated even in the dry and windy weather we have had for the last 3 months.
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