SOIL THE STUFF OF LIFE

The first step to a successful garden is getting the soil right.



Bark chip mulch always looks good 



With our hot African sun mulching is vital. We are coming to a stage where every drop of water counts. Mulching retains the moisture in the soil. Mulching can be incorporated into the design of you garden whether you are going for contemporary, Informal, Formal, Oriental there is a mulch for each and every style and taste.



Rocks and pebbles create a contemporary feel they also bring in an exciting texture



Living mulches these are ground cover plants they come in an array of colours, textures and shapes the choice is vast. What is wonderful about this choice of mulching is that the plants successfully smother weeds as well as pulling the design together. Pebbles, different coloured gravels, shells and bark chips are just a few of the options if you want to bring another texture into your garden. Whichever mulch you choose it is an essential part of the garden

Arctotheca calendula works well as a living mulch

Working in the maintenance industry bought to my attention that most gardeners have an obsession when it comes to turning the beds and making sure that not one leaf dare be left in them. Both of these practices are very bad for your soil. Turning the beds disturbs the plants roots as well as causing dormant weed seeds to surface and germinate. It also upsets the balance in the soil. Leaves that have fallen onto the bed are one of the best things that could happen in terms of improving and feeding the soil. In fact we should be putting as many as we can onto our beds. As the leaves decompose they make the most beautiful rich and healthy soil. The end result is humus this is made up from all that broken down matter, now you have a soil that is like gold dust to gardeners. Healthy soil equals healthy plants.

Adding a little helping hand. Our company does not use chemical products. Most chemical fertilizers leech the soil of its nutrients and all the hard work that has been put into obtaining healthy humus rich soil is lost. Plants can also get burnt and die off if to much fertilizer is applied. We prefer to go the Organic route by using Neutrogs Organic fertilizer range. It may smell for a day or two but the results are amazing. Another product that works wonders for plants is Fertlies this fertilizer comes from earthworm castings, these amazing creatures are soils miracle workers. There are a number of companies that sell these worms with wormaries that can fit into any space big or small. Whether you want to feed you house plants or your whole garden. All you need to feed them is your kitchen waste how simple is that .In return you get the most amazing liquid fertilizer which will give you strong healthy plants that the neighbours will be envious of.

Resources: Arctotheca calendula image from www.plantzafrica.com