As with any good garden, though, we try to allow for a certain amount of synchronicity. It always helps to remember that we are more custodians of our gardens than military generals. I am sure there are gardeners who would disagree with that assessment, but this is how I like to think of my role. The Back Garden Overgrown with trees in the past, the back garden is now starting to receive much more sun as we carefully prune and edit out trees that were encroaching on other trees and plants. Unfortunately, there are areas that appear to have become almost sterile.
Nothing seems to grow there, even when regular watering is applied.
I am guessing that the lack of sunlight, combined with the overabundance of tree roots has left the soil with too little organic matter to grow smaller plants well, or even retain water. Even after a heavy soaking the ground turns dry very quickly. My first plan for these areas is to compost them heavily to try to develop a nice bed for new plantings. I have the ability to visit my local city composting center and pick up an entire truckload of compost. Of course, I need to make the time to pickup the compost and then also to spread it.