[flopsy]

Hi, I was speaking to a friend on the plot the other day and he said that when he is planting up he puts shredded newspaper at the bottom of the hole. he says this helps keep the roots moist with water retention, any merits in doing this or is it an old wives tale?
cheers pete

[Trillium]

It helps to a certain point but eventually the newspaper composts and there's little left to hold moisture.     

Given the past few years in most of the UK, I doubt keeping in soil moisture is a problem.