Many of the words favourite  plants grow naturally on chalk and limestone. These soils are alkaline, can be rich and fertile as well as being well drained. This type of soil does exclude a small proportion of plants. In particular it will not be possible to grow committed acid loving plants like Rhododendrons.

 Shallow soil over chalk can drain quickly which can lead to very hot and dry conditions in summer. These soils should be mulched and have large amounts of compost added. Some plants after several seasons of growth can show the problem of yellowing of the leaves due to vital nutrients being locked up by the soils alkaline chemistry. A simple remedy is to apply sequestered iron annually as new growth starts in spring.