Dirt(y) secrets of the garden
Summer is a test for all gardens. Today I want to ‘dish some dirt’ ... on soil!
We moved to Rushworth after twenty years of living across the road from the beach! When working in the garden there, I used to say that ‘I was playing in the sandpit!’ Water would go straight through the light, often poorly nutritious soil. Coupled with that the salt wind would often dry out and burn the leaves of my plants.
Here in Rushworth my husband says that we have ‘water proof soil’. How many of us have tried watering the garden just to see the water run off without soaking in?
Another issue is that there are only a couple of centimetres of soil before hitting rock or hard clay. Each time we plant something that requires considerable root space, a metal fencing bar is needed. We have even used a jack hammer in extreme cases to dig a decent sized hole.
Adding gypsum to this hard, clay soil in granular or liquid form helps to improve the soil quality and water retention. Similarly, water saving granules or liquid used regularly, according to the amount and directions on the pack, is needed especially at time of planting.
Finding the best compost or additional nutrients for your soil boils down to personal choice. For me, it has been a bit of trial and error. I have used my own garden compost, mushroom compost, Biomix and well aged animal manure - occasionally, too enthusiastically and resulting in a bit of leaf burning due to over fertilization or alteration of the soil PH.
Environmentally sustainable coir
Most recently I have been using coir to mix in with the top soil or added at time of planting. Premium coir is a renewable resource that is sourced from coconuts. It as an environmentally sustainable material, as neither the bark nor the tree has been harmed. It has no hazardous disposal problems and there are no known bacterial risks associated.
The coir is easily transported in a compressed state. Easy to buy in a small block and super easy to use. Put in a wheelburrow or large tub, fill with water as per instructions and watch it expand. The coir maintains excellent air filled porosity and has excellent water retention. So far I have found it very effective.
The use of the shade cloth on days of extreme heat is also beneficial. To top it all off, many different types of mulch are available. My preference is sugar cane mulch. It looks neater than straw in a garden of smaller plants and flowers. It also breaks down well without compacting into hard impenetrable cover that doesn’t allow water / rain though to the soil.
Baby Boomer Bloomer
