[iggyboy]

can I use conifer leaves to help make an acidic soil pocket for my lovely Azalea? At the moment it is in a pot with ericaceous compost and seems happy,it certainly bloomed well and I had plenty of nice comments from other plot holders on our site. However,I would like to let it stretch its roots out and free it from its pot,but our soil is not suitable for Azalea and other acid lovers. Any help, please?

[muckyboots]

Aup iggyboy, I know you can use pine needles not sure about conifers tho,I have used composted bark in the past.Failing that a bag of ericaceous compost.Iv buried a big tub with drainage holes and planted that up.works ok for me,good luck .

[Antonius]

Dont conifers kill anything that tries to grow near to them? I think I have read there is something (not sure what) in the conifer leaves which,when coming into contact with the soil kills any competition for moisture within a certain area of the tree. I would hold fire on using conifer leaves for feeding Azaleas...use ericacous compost instead.

[izzy]

braken leaves are good