Hey everyone! I'm a new gardener and super excited to have a garden now that I've moved into my first house. I've planted a variety of plants and used only compost for my garden beds. However, I've noticed that my plants aren't growing as quickly as those in other gardens nearby. I'm trying to figure out if it's due to my plants just being new, or because my garden only gets sun for half the day since it's West facing. I've heard that using only compost might not be the best idea. Should I mix in some topsoil this winter to fix the issue, or will it get better on its own?
3 Answers
It sounds like your plants are just in their first year, and they might still be focusing on getting their roots established rather than growing tall. Just keep them well-watered and add some seaweed feed. At the end of the season, mulch with a mix of manure or composted bark to improve the soil structure. Continue doing this yearly for a couple of years, and you should see improvement!
Mixing in some topsoil and manure is a good plan! Some plants, especially certain trees and shrubs, prefer specific soil types, so make sure to check their needs. A boost from seaweed fertilizer can help too! Don't stress too much about it; gardening is all about learning from these little missteps.
It’s important to know if you’re using compost on its own or mixing it with existing soil. Since your plants are new, they're likely still getting settled in, especially trees and shrubs which take a few years to thrive. Perennials will come back bigger next year for sure!