Improving Soil

kriss_boy

In my gardening books when they talk about mixing in organic matter into the soil does this include leaves and grass cuttings or is that just silly?

Ive been trying to improve my lawn by raking out the moss and leaves. Could this material be mixed in with the empty borders to prepare them for next year?

NeverInDebt

You need a compost bin and allow organic material to decompose a mixture of kitchen waste (greens), organic dead plants, grass cuttings and even old compost (peat) and allow to rot in a composter for 6 months

You can get organic waste some councils give it for free every now and then they call it 'soil improver'

SailorSam

I've just made up raised beds, the soil i got from a neighbour who's having an extension built so it's a mixture of some good some not-so-good.. I've planted green manure in it after seeing them talking about it on Gardeners World, come the spring i hope this will help improve the soil when i dig it in.

ukbill69

Manure is the best, I also put in spent compost from the last years pots to.

Lotus-eater

Leaves, yes, but better if you let them rot down a bit in bin liners, or in a pile if you have enough. Stick some grass cuttings in with them to help them rot faster.
Grass cuttings, yes, but again better if rotted down a bit.
Moss doesn't rot down well, but if I was you I'd stick the whole lot in bin bags till next year, or just add it to your normal compost bin.

youngie

kriss_boy wrote: »

In my gardening books when they talk about mixing in organic matter into the soil does this include leaves and grass cuttings or is that just silly?

Ive been trying to improve my lawn by raking out the moss and leaves. Could this material be mixed in with the empty borders to prepare them for next year?

I agree that you need to compost your organic matter,but thought I,d remind you that now is a good time to aerate you lawn especially the mossy areas easiest way is to spike with a fork

olly300

kriss_boy wrote: »

In my gardening books when they talk about mixing in organic matter into the soil does this include leaves and grass cuttings or is that just silly?

It's not being silly.

However as the others said the organic matter is better if it's rotted down.

At the moment (depending where you are in the country) you can sow some green manure seeds using a type specifically for autumn/winter. Then once spring comes about 5/6 weeks before you plant anything you dig it into the soil.

Alternatively you can dig in manure and rotted down compost over winter leaving the frost to break it down ready for spring.