Gardening and Horticulture - Garden soil

I started a garden in my backyard and the dirt is hard clumpy. I put roses, palm trees, bird of paradise and some other litte flowers in the garden. Is there a plant food that wil help the health of these plants that I can add to the dirt/soil?

There are many. Osmocote or similar slow release or you can work in a balanced(10-10-10) granular. There are also water soluable ferts like miracle grow.

Soil test and amendments to soil are best done before planting. Hard, lumpy, clay soil is difficult to amend after planting. As indicated, fertilizer may be helpful with nutrition. Extra care should be taken when watering, as it will take longer for water to permeate clay soil.

Hi Ib,

As twelvepole stated, the best thing you can do for your plants is to enrich the soil. Consider topdressing with 2" of compost. If you can't mix it into the soil because you already planted, the worms should work it in over time. Use an organic mulch such as shredded hardwood to keep the soil temp and moisture levels even. You could even make a compost tea and use that to water your plants.
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/soil/2000052708003930.html
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/orgmatter/index.html
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/orgmatter/index.html

Newt