Flowerbed care

Question

My flowerbed looks a bit unhappy overall. I only just started gardening so I’m not really sure what I am doing wrong or could improve. I am planning on fertilizing the soil, as I was away for a couple of months and just came back and weeded the flowerbed. Most things seem to be growing fine but especially the flowers seem to never last very long. The soil is quite clay like underneath but I use compost soil on top and mixed it through when I started planting stuff last autumn. My garden is in London so usually there is enough rain but if not I water a few times a week. At the moment it’s pretty warm. Is there something I can do to give it all more life and make it happier?

Thank you so much for your help,

Tamara

Answer 1

It looks and sounds like you are doing a good job! Many of the plants and shrubs should grow larger as they get older and fill out the garden. Look up pruning guidelines for each species you have to ensure healthy growth.

Adding compost periodically is a great idea because this not only feeds plants but also will improve your clay soil over time. You may consider having a soil test done. This will allow you to identify and correct any specific nutrient imbalances and to determine whether the soil pH is correct for your chosen plants.