HOW TO CORRECTLY MAINTAIN YOUR SOIL THIS FEBRUATY
W
hilst there are many things that you can do in
your garden during February looking aſt er the soil is one of the most important things that you can do. Well fertilised soil feeds your vegetables and fl owers and can make the soil fi ner and easier to manage. At the basic level of soil maintenance, you can lightly turn over the surface of the ground every couple of weeks until Spring. By doing this you can kill a lot of weeds and reduce soil pests naturally and by doing it frequently, you are in a position to monitor the soil and are able to spot and remove bits of roots as the weeds start growing. If you decide to use manure you can use well-rotted animal manure or green manure.
Green manure acts as a blanket to the soil during the Winter months as the fast-growing plants, such as Winter grazing rye, protects the soils nutrients and then liſt s nitrogen harvested from the air into the soil.
the soil is one of
important things that you can do
“Looking after the
most
Green manure does take planning as usually it needs to be sown in Autumn and diff erent types of green manure can be better for diff erent types of soil. Generally, green manure has deep roots which help break up heavy soils and improve soil structure; deep roots, although benefi cial to the soil does need work to dig out in
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the Spring. If you decide to use animal manure it is best introduced to the soil mixed in with compost. Whilst horse, cow and chicken manure are usually used it is not recommended to use that of dog or cat as they are likely to carry parasites. If you have completed these soil preparations it is time to cover the soil with sheets of plastic or cloches to warm the soil ready for sowing or planting. Or, if you are still looking for that extra charge for your soil some options might be seaweed which is oſt en used to add minerals, bark and woodchip is useful to retain water for established plants or rock dust is used in organic farming to help with drainage. Daisey McQuaid
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