Healthy Gardens, How do we achieve them?
Where do we start if our garden is NOT looking happy and healthy?
To create a healthy garden, firstly take a good look around your existing garden and consider the following;
1. When you dig into the soil, does it look dark and crumbly with a slightly sticky feel; can you see anything moving? OR Is it dry, sandy and lifeless? (See our post on Soil Foundation)
2. Look at the mulch, is it piled up against plant stems?
3. When you water the garden, does it still remain dry below the surface?
4. Are the leaves on plants green and healthy looking or are they yellow and dis-colored?
5. Are there any signs of pests and disease?
If your garden is showing visible signs of distress then Spring or Autumn seasons are the best times to get stuck into the garden and improve the quality of your soil.
How do you Create a Healthy Garden?
If you are a busy person then it is advisable to seek out the advice of a knowledgeable horticulturist or garden care company to help you determine the most effective way of dealing with your own unique set of circumstances. If you have the time and energy and enjoy working in the garden, consider incorporating the following suggestions or do some research into creating a healthy garden in your district.
Soil Improvers – You can create your own compost from kitchen scaraps or purchase a quality bagged or liquid compost that you can apply to the soil in your garden. It is far more effective if you can get some soil contact especially around your plants. The compost will introduce micro-organisms and improve the soil structure and water and nutrient holding capacity of the soil.
Fertilizer – A good quality, slow release organic fertilizer applied as specified to ensure plants are well fed during growth seasons is a must. Avoid the high nitrogen chemical fertilizers as they can cause all sorts of issues long term to your plants, lawn and soil. A foliar fertilizer is also a very helpful instant boost for plants and can be used in addition to granular fertilizers.
Water Retention – Most sandy soils and mulches experience a water repellency issue which means the water doesn’t penetrate evenly or deeply through the soil and around plant roots. Purchase a quality long lasting granular or liquid product and apply this as recommended.
Pest Control – If you are trying to encourage micro-organisms in your soil, then it is a good idea to stay away from harmful chemicals. There are many good eco brands available now which are very effective and will maintain a safe environment for family and pets to circulate in.The easiest way to prevent insect damage in your garden is discourage them from coming in the first place. A healthy soil is the best defense.
Pull out any weak plants that attract insects and dispose of them away from the garden area
Water foliage early so foliage will be dry for most of the day. Wet foliage encourages insect and fungal damage to your plants. Dis-infect. If.you’ve been pruning infested plants, clean your tools before moving on to other garden areas. This will reduce the speed of invading insects.
Weeds – Hand pull weeds if you can,. if this is not possible, consider some of the vingar/acetic based based alternatives to glyphosate products common;y known as Zero or Round-Up. If you have to use weedkiller keep product away from valued plants as it can kill them too. Newspaper 5-6 sheets thick applied over cut back weeds and then mulched, will also help kill & keep weeds under control.
Mulch – One of the biggest mistakes people make is to pile the mulch onto the garden too thick and directly up to the stems of plants. Scrape the mulch back from plant stems and create a bowl so that water can penetrate, Approx 75mm thick layer is best!! A good quality mulch will help keep soil temperatures cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter, reduce weed infestations and retain moisture for longer periods.
New Plants – If your garden is looking tired and in need of a makeover consider removing plants that are not correctly placed or past their use by date. If you are just replacing a few plants here and there have a look around your local nursery and ask staff for advice and recommendations. If you are considering a makeover that involves sections of your garden, consider employing the services of a company with a good knowledge of plants suitable for your area.
