Kitchen Garden Forum

18 months ago we moved to what used to be a conifer nursery. Unfortunately, the conifers (most were leylandi) had not been tended for over 12 years so they had to be ripped out. The soil is obviously impoverished - that's Ok as we can produce muck by the ton (21 horses). It is also very acid and sandy
I had about half an acre levelled last Summer with the idea of erecting a large polytunnel, a fruit cage and growing some veg. The land was on a slope with a drop of 6' over 50 feet. The top soil was removed, the subsoil 'cut and shut' I think that's the phrase, and then the topsoil put back over the top.
I have waited over six months to allow the soil to settle. However, the problem is that in some areas the resulting soil structure is like quicksand. It sucks you in to over the tops of your boots. Quite scarey at times. Help, what on earth can I do with this area to get it productive.

Hello Gazaro
Whereabouts on the slope are the quicksand areas? I'm presuming these are damp areas.
From what you say it sounds as though you have a drainage problem. Perhaps removing the subsoil and then putting the topsoil back has altered the natural drainage of the area. Water which previously got away through the subsoil can no longer do so.
Perhaps you will need to dig a few deep trenches to investigate what's going on.
There is no point in going any further until you have sorted this problem out.

John

Well, Gazaro, at least you seem to have found an excellent spot for your celery and celeriac.

If this problem is justlocalised, you could consider making a pond feature to attract slug-eating wildlife like toads. However, I would follow John's advice first.

I don'tknow what "cut and shut" involves; is it something you do when terracing?

mike

it sounds like a water problem, if youve cut a level terrace accross a slope its probable that water is coming down from uphill then not getting away accross the level bit, it may be worth digging an intercepter ditch accross the uphill edge of the flat bit to divert the water away to both sides.
otherwise you will be looking at installing land drains, slotted pipe with a gravel backfill, all through the level bit.

When you say quicksand, gazaro, do you really mean WET and sandy like seaside quicksand, or just so RUNNY sandy that you sink in like you would into sand on, say, a dry dune?

If it's the former, I agree with the others , it must be drainage problem and, other than raising the level of the whole area or getting the water away so that the growing ground is above the standing water, you haven't really got much chance.

If it's the latter, application of any bulky matter like compost will improve it over the years. Meanwhile, grow stuff there like carrots, parsnips, potatoes and, I would have thought, asparagus.

Hope you get it sorted!

Thanks for all your replies. This 'quicksand' seems to be a feature of our land once it is disturbed. We had an agrictural barn built 12 months ago and the contractors came across a 12 foot wide area like this where some of the concrete was due to go. (wet and wobbley - you could stand on it and jump and the whole area would wobble) They thought it may have been a rubbish pit so decided to dig. Nothing was found to a depth of six feet and the soil around it was of a normal structure abeit very poor. The area I have had levelled appeared fine before the soil was disturbed. It is now level but with these peculiar 'pockets'
You have to be correct about it being a problem with drainage. However, the area is too big for me to do anything by hand (I'm in my 60's, female) and at the moment the whole of the ground is far too soft for any heavy machinery but I quite like the idea of a drainage ditch across the top of the land. I could do that with the mini digger from the top track without going onto the new bit. I'll have a go tomorrow and see if it makes a difference over the next few weeks. I'll let you know.

Hi Gazaro,
May I enquire which part of the country you are in?
JB.

Hampshire, Nr Liss.
Hilliers nursery is about three miles away.