COMMUNITY
room for air. It does however contain plenty of nutrients and, if handled properly, can be an excellent bed for vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, sprouts and kale. It will require plenty of added organic matter such as well- rotted manure, compost, peat or leaf mould to improve the molecular structure. Many work and opt to grow ‘on it’, rather than ‘in it’ – raised beds are a popular option. Peaty soil is common on the and its ability to hold water often creates sift, boggy conditions that plague many a garden. Heath- ers and rhodo- dendrons thrive is such condi-
tions and, with the addition of compost, manure, or even seaweed, can make a huge difference to what you can effectively grow.
Sandy soils contain the op- posite characteristics to clay. Large, open, gritty molecules are excellent for drainage but that also means that nutrients leak quickly from the soil and need to be replaced regularly. Obviously, in dry weather the sandy areas will not retain moisture and fruit and veg- etables will often ‘run out of puff’ as the season progress- es.
Loam is often considered to be the perfect soil for garden- ers, farmers and grass grow- ers such as park attendants.
Halfway between clay and sandy, loam is easier to work, retains some moisture – but not too much, and holds on to the balance of its nutrient base. Gardeners with sandy or clay soils aim to manufacture a ‘loam’ type soil by add- Compost is without doubt today’s gardener’s best friend. Easy to produce, cheap to use and acts as a wonderful natural soil conditioner without the need to pop down to the local gar- den centre to buy an artificial substi- tute. There are also sev- eral ‘nat-
ural’ composts which only need sourced and uplifted. Leaf mould is just rotted leaves that have fallen from the trees over several years and can be shovelled up in many ar- eas of woodland or stored in autumn as the leaves fall, for use at a later date. Seaweed is another wonderful, natural ingredient, rich in potash and comes with an added bonus, salt, which is nature’s slug re- pellent. Cow or horse dung is king of composts – the older and more rotted the better – fantastic for fruit and veg – but don’t use it too fresh as it can burn off young growth – let it stand and mature, the longer the better. Our forefathers knew the virtues and values of natural composts and grew acres and acres of wonderful vege- tables thanks to the power of seaweed, manure and hard work.
Compost do’s and don’t
Do include – Grass cuttings
Raw fruit and veg scraps Non-woody plant material Seaweed
Weeds – that have not gone to seed Crumpled up newspapers
Don’t include –
Diseased plants
Anything that has been treated with weedkiller Perennial weeds – that will grow back Dog or cat poo
Wood or woody items 19
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