Every gardener wants to have better plants and flowers, but, sometimes we just need to get to the root of the matter so to speak. There is nothing more satisfying than a deep rich loamy soil. Unfortunately, unless you are very luck, you are unlikely to inherit such a soil. Nevertheless it is definitely worth investing the time and energy to improve your soil. Over time looking after your soil will pay dividends.
Identify your soil. If you have a heavy clay soil, the main task will be to add more organic matter and sand to help. Ph Test. If you are growing specialist plants like Rhododendrons, it is especially important to test your soils ph. If your soil is alkaline (high ph) acid loving plants will not thrive their. You will either have to lower the ph of the soil or choose different plants. See: Soil Acidity improvers
Compost Bins.
A compost bin can be seen as the heart of the garden. It recycles old plant material creating a wonderful rich compost to be spread on the garden. Ideally, you should have at least 2 bins, so one can be decomposing whilst you add to another. See more tips on making compost here.
Spread the rotted compost over the soil. You don’t need to pile it high, spread thinly for maximum effect. A light hoeing into the soil is sufficient.
Buy Well rotted manure. If you inherit a really poor soil, it will take too long relying on your own compost. Start off with a big one off purchase of top soil or well rotted manure. It is cheaper and more efficient buying in bulk than doing little and often.
Courgettes will benefit from good, rich soil
Leaf Mould.
Leaf mould is another good soil improver. It is not particularly rich in nutrients but, is a good source of organic matter. If it is only partly decomposed just
Read more on gardenerstips.co.uk