Q I have poor soil mulched with bark. How can I feed it?
Louise Tammadge, Merseyside
A CHRISTINE SAYS You need to add bulky organic matter, such as garden compost, leafmould or well-rotted manure, to your flower beds. But this will be difficult with the bark mulch, although it depends how thickly it was laid. If it’s only a very thin layer, just spread the organic matter on top and let worms and other organisms pull it down into the soil.
To help your plants flower well, you should also feed them. You could apply a slow-release granular fertiliser that’s high in potash on top of the bark, or water in a liquid feed rich in potash from April onwards. Another option is to bury a drip hose, then apply liquid feed through a diluter on a regular basis.
When adding new plants, dig in lots of organic matter, mulch the soil surface and water regularly until the plants are established.