I normally add compost, but if I were to do it right, I would have reworked the soil weeks ahead of planting. Trouble is, I'm rebuilding a forested area after removing invasive plants. So, I need to replenish the soil and replant without a lot of fuss.

I've planted red flowering currant, yellow flowering current, serviceberry, huckleberry, elderberry, Solomon's seal, Oregon Grape, Lupine, mock orange, nootka roses, and columbine. I lost one mock orange and one huckleberry that could easily have been caused by lack of water in winter, planting in the fall, or my planting technique.

Frankly, I think you'd have to look at each plant type and get the best recommendations. I don't think it's one size fits all.

I would not amend the soil, dig it or till it. When I am planting just about anything, including wildflowers - I make the smallest hole as possible so the roots will get right into the native soil as soon as possible. (I do water them - but that is all)

I have really icky clay soil. I do mulch new plantings to keep weeds out.

If the soil is compacted (and not soggy), digging can increase aeration and benefit microbial activity. However, if you have wet, sticky soil, additional digging can lead to soil compression. So, you see, the approach taken depends on the soil that you have and the results that you want.

The soil, that I have recently cleared of invasives, hasn't seen sun in easily...25 years. ThereÂs compaction due to the lack of plant activity. There is no humus. ItÂs bare ground with a few sickly, native plants struggling to grow. ThereÂs limited biodiversity. My interest, therefore, is in leverage for restoration of this depleted area. I have already been digging and pulling up root balls the size of a VW bus, but thatÂs another story. ;-)

If you get beautiful flowers on robust plants with a minimum of effort, that's very good. The conditions must be appropriate for the plants you have chosen. There must be plants already growing nearby.

Also, if I plant seeds, and some donÂt grow, itÂs not a big deal. If I buy native plants and have invested a sum of money, I would prefer not to lose any. Then, of course, a four-legged critter shows up and chews the plant to twigs. And so it goesÂ

Good luck on your garden, and may you discover what works best for your area.

My soil is pretty lousy...compacted, dry, full of shale with shoulders of slate beneath. I amended soil ahead of planting. I used composted mushroom soil and some natural humus, dug it all in and let it sit a bit before planting. On the side...where I should have been more diligent, I dug in really only peat. So far (1 month of the new plants) I do see a huge difference in the growth of the plants. In front they seem to have established more quickly, are putting on new growth and blossoming. On the side, they are doing ok...growing, establishing, some blooming. Not nearly as well as the amended beds out front.
Robin

rsmallen...there are probably native plants that love your rocky soil! Yes, you can amend your soil and grow lots of stuff that wouldn't naturally grow in your area...but see what you can do with your native soil. Check out a native plant society in your area, if possible.

I agree. I go with plants that like my kind of soil. To me, it's then being a true native...if that makes sense to anyone else but me....

ahughes...So far what I have found that LOVES my shaley soil is sumac. Groves and groves of it. Oh, and the non-native noxious honesuckle. Those thrive. It keeps wantin to reforest itself with them.

I should clarify though. The plants in my front and back yards are selected specifically for my soil...however, my native landscape designer/horticulturist STILL recommended amendments. It is really pretty lousy soil. The difference in growth COULD BE that the front is exclusively natives. Whereas the side (which should have probably gotten the most amendements) is a lot of perennials with some native hybrids and landscape/shrub/rugosa roses. (My indulgence garden to make up for the fact it is the dogs potty. I needed some other overwhelming fragrance there...!) Anyway, perennials really LOVE the amended stuff...and I just added some peat and plunked them in. So I suppose that this could explain the growth difference.

Robin