Dry / Well Drained

Dry soils. There are often areas within a garden where the soil is always pretty dry. Described as being in the rain shadow, these areas are in the lee of a building or a fence so receive very little direct rain.

Adding water is the obvious solution. Install a well-designed and maintained irrigation system which can target individual plants so maximising return for investment.l

Mulching will benefit all types of soil – add whatever mulches you can, such as compost, well-rotted farmyard manure or bark, and keep adding it year on year. Over time this addition of organic and humus rich material will break down and be taken deeply into the soil by the action of worms. This will improve the structure of the soil which will enable better water retaining capacity.

Choose your plants wisely. Dry soils in the sun immediately evoke pictures of desert or Mediterranean plants. How about Olives, Cupressus or Cork Oak, Yuccas, Cistus, Lavender or Rosemary, Eucomis or Agapanthus?