When I dig into my compost and find thousands of worms wriggling around, my heart leaps with joy. That’s because worms carry many benefits for the compost heap, helping with everything from aeration to removing pathogens – and adding nutrient-rich worm castings. Meanwhile, adding that finished compost to the soil encourages other worms, which in […]
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Soil, when looked after, works wonders. In fact, after years of abusing soil with tractors, chemicals and artificial fertilisers, we are only just starting to learn how well it works when treated well. Much of that wonder comes down to Mycorrhizae Fungi. Contents What is mycorrhizal fungi? Mycorrhizae fungi is a family of fungus that
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Both gardening and composting are full of controversy. Compost tea is no different. You’ll find experts and scientists that believe compost tea makes no difference to plants – and could even be harmful. You’ll also find other experts that are convinced it can prevent disease and introduce beneficial microbes to your soil. Let’s take a
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You know compost is good for the soil, but do you know why? Chances are you think it’s about nitrogen and nutrients. That’s correct – compost does slowly release nutrients. However, these nutrients often help in more indirect ways than you might think. One way compost does so is by helping soil structure via the
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Until a couple of years ago, I didn’t even realise you could grow tomato plants from cuttings Then, at the local gardening club, one experienced gardener told me that he would always take cuttings off his tomato plants. As the old ones started to become less productive, he would replace them with new plants from
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After months or even years, your homemade compost is ready. It’s matured, darkened and gained a fresh earthy smell. Now it’s time to use it – and what a lot of uses there are for it! In fact, the many uses of compost all around the garden mean that even the keenest of gardeners usually
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Have you ever bought live pot herbs from the store? Usually they look great, but after a week or two they start getting problems. First the plant droops, then the leaves turn yellow, and then the plant dies. I used to think that this was just because they were forced. But then I learnt that
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My local council has a free compost scheme. The food and garden waste collected from households is turned into huge quantities of compost. A portion of this is taken to one collection point, and anyone can come and help themselves. When you arrive at the collection point, the compost is often still hot. Steam rises
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Manure may smell, but as a source of fertility for your soil, it’s hard to beat. It’s also one of the best compost materials you can use. Despite that, there are problems with manure that you need to be aware of. You’ll also find that different animal manures have different properties, and need to be
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If you think there’s only one or two types of composting, you might be in for a surprise. There’s actually dozens of ways you can turn organic waste into a soil amendment so valuable it’s called ‘black gold’. Each composting method has its pros and cons – and its fans and detractors! In reality, most
17 Composting Methods – Plus How to Choose the Best One For Your Garden and Your Needs Read More »