Surrey Homes | SH74 | March 2021 | Interiors supplement inside

All Weather Tennis Courts
Constructed and Resurfaced
in Kent Sussex & Surrey
Above: Lupins will help to feed the soil with nitrogen
If, on the other hand, the handful feels gritty (you
can easily see the particles) and it won’t stay in a ball,
even when wet, then it is sandy. The holy grail of
soil is loam, which, when squeezed will almost form
a ball and then crumble nicely into a heap again.
Improve the soil’s structure
Clay is fertile and tends to be naturally slightly
alkaline, which many vegetables (especially brassicas
like cabbage and Brussel sprouts) appreciate. The
main problem is that it is hard to work and slow to
warm in spring – if you sow seed directly into cold
wet clay at the beginning of the season, it probably
won’t germinate. To improve clay soil, just keep adding
bulky organic matter and grit. Clay (and silty) soils
can be prone to forming pans of compacted soil, either
on or under the surface, leading to problems with
drainage and poor penetration of plant roots. You can
help warm the soil by placing a layer of black plastic
over it in late winter, use cloches, or sow into guttering
or pots, before planting out when the soil has warmed.
Sandy soil is nice and easy to work and fast to warm
in the spring, so the season can start earlier. Crops that
thrive in sandy soils are roots such as carrots, parsnips
and bulbs – onions, garlic and leeks. But sandy soil is
very free draining, so water (and the precious nutrients
dissolved in it) leaches away out of the soil, leaving
it parched and dry. Adding bulky organic matter will
help sandy soil retain moisture and improve its fertility.
Stones are often the cause of forking carrots
(together with erratic watering and feeding). It is
impossible to remove all the stones from your plot, but
do try to sieve out some of the bigger ones if you can,
while you’re working in the soil – over time they will
disappear, leaving you with a better soil for planting in.
If the site is too stony, it may not be suitable. You may
do better with raised beds. Chalky soils present similar
problems and often only have a thin layer of topsoil.
The addition of bulky organic matter (homemade
compost, animal manure, or spent mushroom
Please call Martin
for Free Advice & Quotations.
01424 892265 | 07831 643835
www.martingurr.co.uk
Traditional Craftsmanship
for Modern Applications
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Garages, Outbuildings
and Garden Rooms
chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk
Call for a quote 01959 447477
Filston Farm, Filston Lane, Sevenoaks,
Kent TN14 5JU
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