Shallow soil depth

[wired]

Hope someone can help , last year we moved into a 10 year old house with a medium sized,well landscaped garden.Have just taken out a tall sapling which was not flourishing and can see why,the soil looks quite good but it is only 2 - 21/2 foot deep on top of a very solid base. Now I know why the lawn gets flooded but plants dry out too quickly. Does anyone know of a reasonable remedy please?

[Thunderbird+]

What I think may have happened here is that when the house was built the site was cleared of the top soil and when the footing was dug out for the foundations all the sub-soil was spread out over the garden and when the garden was landscaped it was done on the cheap and given only a thin layer of top soil, this happens all too often.

If this is the case, then I think all you can do is to try and improve what you have by adding to the soil to improve drainage and soil structure.

The lawn area can be spiked with a fork using the full depth of the tines at a few inches apart over the entire lawn, otherwise if it is more serious it could be spiked using hollow tines, remove the plugs then brush a sandy top dressing into the holes to improve drainage.

Other areas may be improved by adding plenty of organic matter in the form of well rotted farmyard manure by digging it in to in effect increse the depth of the top soil.
Adding a mulch of leaf mould or wood chips to the surfice will also help.

If it's a heavy clay type soil you have, it can be improved by rough digging in the beds or borders in late autumn and allow the frost action to crumble the clods over the winter.
Good Luck. Tbird+

[wired]

Thanks Tbird,I've been out this morning, cleared a small area of poor shrubs and am using a pickaxe to break up that area, as for the rest I shall follow your advice. The house is lovely what a shame they skimped on the garden.
Wired

[landscaper2]

Unfortunately landscapers are usually the last trade in and by then the builder is looking to 'get out ' as cheap as poss. However, 2- 21/2 foot of good topsoil would be enough for most trees and shrubs to grow well tho, but having to breaking it up with a pick axe would suggest it's not as good as you think! T/bird is probably right in his assumpion that the 'landscaping' was done on the cheap and that you have a nice layer of subsoil to contend with. I'd go with the 'surface treatment' suggested and when planting new, dig a good sized hole and use good quality soil mix to back-fill, making sure you break up that 'solid bottom', otherwise you will just have a waterlooged underground pot in the winter.

[wired]

Thanks for replies, today have got down to some tarmac! I don't think it's all like that so am taking out some of it and following advice on the rest! There are some jobs that you just shouldn't start.