Originally posted on www.czechgardener.com on October 9, 2017

Hallo everyone,

it’ s time to do some little resume on my work in last 2 months here in the garden. It’s rather useful, because if you think you haven’t done that much, your camera can tell you about some progress. I’m trying to take pictures of most works I do – so snap before, during and after works.

This 2 acres garden has good base – big willows, oaks, gray ashes, sugar maples and other trees. Really doesn’t include many shrubs, flower beds are present, but they need lot more tender and care then in the past 2 years.

My main complain is the soil, nearly pure clay requires adding lots of sand and some compost too. To remove soil from the sods, or using spade, crushing the clumps of soils require some strenght, good exercise I guess.

Clay is actually fascinating type of soil, cause it is fertile and holds a lot of water that is offered to plants slowly in the drier periods. But every rain makes it also impossible to continue in your soil landscaping works for next 3 days (even it is sunny and warm).

I ordered 7 tons of sand for 200 dollars (inc. shipping), most of it is gone now, so I’ll need more soon! Leftover compost is nearly gone too, so I had to start new one in better shaded area (well, now it is more viewed, umm).

So I started new compost heap, much closer to the house. As you know compost is the best natural fertilizer – all the organic materials, leaves, sod, weeds, kitchen waste etc. create excellent black humus soil. This is the real fertilizer that naturally adds life to the soil and gives it it’ s fertility. I’m trying to gather all I can from all around the garden, but actually I’ll make another compost heap for leaves only – this leafy compost will be used in the shaded areas for woodlands plants. Vivat compost!