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Feeding your soil

Feeding your soil is a very good piece of advice when it comes to providing your plants with the best living conditions. A well-cultivated soil will give your plants all nutrients and minerals they need.

What a healthy soil looks like

There are some crucial elements that every soil should have to ensure the best growing conditions for your plants, whether they are flowers or crops:

  • minerals: the type of minerals that are in your soil determine what type of soil you have at hand. Sand consists of large particles, whereas clay has very small particles. Because of the density of clay, this type of soil does not drain very well. Sand, on the other hand, drains a little bit too quickly, taking away all important nutrients at the same time.
  • air: a healthy soil consists for 25 percent of air. Soil life needs this amount of air to thrive. The right balance is important. Too much air easily leads to the decay of organic matter;
  • organic matter: this may include the remains of organisms, fallen leaves, garden debris, etc. Organic matter makes up about 5 to 10 percent of the soil, but is very important for a healthy soil. That is because it retains water and stores nutrients that are essential for your plants;
  • water: just like air, a healthy soil is composed of water for about 25 percent. Again, a good balance is key. The water should not completely fill up the empty spaces, because then there would be no room for air – and vice versa.

Feeding your soil with mulch

Of course, the perfect soil does not exist. That is why you should use mulch to lend nature a hand. Mulched soil discourages the development of weeds and resist drought better. Before applying mulch, make sure all weeds are removed. Next, lay down a thick layer of mulch. Use fallen leaves or wood chips to create a mulch that is full of nutrients. Use it to cover shrub borders and flower beds. Compost is a different type of mulch that will make your plants grow rapidly and healthily. Of course, there are various sorts of compost as well. Other types of mulch include straw, hay and grass. Adding animal manure to the soil is another frequently used technique. Animal mulch contains a lot of nitrogen, which is an important nutrient that plants need to grow. Do you want to know more about feeding your soil? Bring a visit to our garden centre in Poynings and talk to our specialised staff in person!

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