[Windyacre]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and have only really started gardening proper this year. I am going to plant escallonia gold brian at the front wall of my house. I have bought bagged farmyard manure and want to know should I dig a hole about 1 foot deep, fill with the manure and then plant the shrubs directly into the manure? Or do I need to mix the manure with clay and if so at what ratio. My clay isnt great quality, lots of grit from wall foundation, I have tried to dig out as much of this as possible.

Thanks in advance

[davidnugent]

Proberly best to mix it all in with the clay you have,it will give the ground good drainage with all those stones and thats good for the plant,and feed twice a month with miracle grow during the growing season,your plant likes part shade and tolerates martime exposure and is hardy to an irish winter.I hope that helps,

[Windyacre]

Thanks for that. I will be at that today if the rain holds off. I was just going to leave mother nature to look after feeding them but I will use miracle grow as you said. Thanks again.