prepping ground with manure

I've taken advice from this board on preparing some soil for some new climbers: I gave it a light turn and spread manure over it. I then tried to turn it again a bit. Should i really dig the manure in? I'm thinking that when i dig a small hole for a climber it will still sit in the old soil.

Thanks

 

If you're adding manure at this time of year, you need to bear in mind that it won't break down as quickly as spreading it in late autumn, winter or very early spring.

I'd suggest digging out the hole for your climber and then digging the manure into the bottom of the hole. In other words, you plant your climber on top of the manure. That way, the roots can gradually spread down into a mixture of soil and manure, benefittng from the nutrients and water retaining properties over a period of time.

 

would i be best not planting until autumn?

 

Hi Yelf

Ah, well, it all depends....

From your original post, I got the impresson you had bought your plants already and were raring to go. If that's the case, I don't think your plants would come to much harm if you did go ahead now, as long as you kept them well watered.

Alternatively, if you haven't got them yet, you could leave the planting until the autumn i.e. October onwards. That's the traditional time for some of the favourite climbers.

What types have you bought/are you going to buy?

 

Thanks. Im not 100% sure yet - have been sugested Rosa Glauca, felicte perpetue rambling rose, seagull rose, mahonia.

 

I think all those can be planted in the autumn, if you want to do that.

It's been a great year for roses so far. Never seen them looking better in this part of the world.

I'd suggest that you check any plants you buy carefully; some garden centres don't look after their stock very well and by the end of the summer, their plants end up tatty, starved and pot bound. Might be a good idea to buy soon if you see good specimens and look after them yourself until planting. It depends what's readily available.

Good luck.