As we wave goodbye to winter and joyfully anticipate setting out our rattan garden furniture, here are a few tips for maximising the potential of your soil.
Your borders
All borders benefit from a thorough digging over. Start by removing any debris that isn’t fully rotted down – pinecones, the top layer of fallen leaves and any fallen twigs and branches can be added to your compost heap. The next job is to aerate the soil, as it may have become compacted over winter. Dig over to a depth of about 12 inches with a spade or tiller.
Adding a well-rotted organic mulch will help improve the texture of your soil, and that, in turn, will aid moisture retention. If you’re a keen composter, now is the time to dig in plenty of that nutrient rich, home-made goodness. Finally, level off your border, give everything a light water and you’re all set for spring planting.
Your pots and containers
Empty pots you used last year for annuals. Replace the soil with a good all-purpose compost, leaving room for the new specimens you plan to plant. Tempting though it might be to just pull out old roots and replant, the nutrient levels in the used soil will be compromised, and this starts you off on the back foot. Use the opportunity to make sure you have plenty of stones or gravel in the bottom of your planters to help drainage and give containers a good clean before refilling.
The most successful gardening starts with providing your plants, shrubs and trees with the nutrients they need to thrive. Get the basics of soil maintenance right, and you should be in for a gloriously fruitful and bounteous spring and summer.
