That is interesting Peter. On 1/10/2012 8:58 p.m., Peter Taggart wrote: > As you suggest an inch of gritty sand spread on the surface of heavy or > good loam will achieve a friable soil which is free draining. I do this on > rose beds in England -which reduces black spot enormously by allowing the > soil surface to dry more quickley, (and encourages crocus, scilla, etc. to > seed freely underneath them. -- Ina Crossley Auckland New Zealand Zone 10