Soil - the invisible garden powerhouse

If you have a Sevenoaks garden where the plants have been lagging in recent years, you may need to look to the soil.

As with so many things in life it is not always what's on the surface that really matters but what lies beneath. When we think of a beautiful garden our minds turn to the visible plants and flowers above ground, but it is not so often that most of us think about what is happening beneath the soil and how crucial this is for the longevity and beauty of our gardens.

While a planting plan can account for poor soil and provide a scheme to suit this, the best option is to feed the soil which will then in turn feed our beloved plants, helping them grown. By nurturing the soil we can improve soil structure, conserve moisture (crucial in the hot summers we've been experiencing in the UK), replenish lost nutrients, and crucially support local biodiversity.

Mulching is a great way to do this. By applying a layer of mulch over the top of the soil, either in autumn or spring, this will help the soil withstand changes in weather conditions from extreme cold and wet, to high summer temperatures.

Conserve moisture

In the summer months a mulch can act as a barrier to evaporation meaning less of a need to use the precious water resources we have.

Weed suppression

A layer of mulch applied properly can shade the soil, blocking the sunlight needed for emerging weeds to grow. This can help cut down on hours of weeding, and allow your plants to flourish without competing with weeds for water and nutrients.

Temperature regulation

Mulch acts as insulation for the soil, keeping it warmer in the winter months - protecting the roots against severe frosts - and protecting the soil from extreme high termperatures in the summer.

Soil improvement and nutrients

As organic mulch starts to decompose it enriches the soil with valuable nutrients and humus. This process improves soil structure, enhancing drainage in heavy clay soils and increasing the soils capacity for retaining moisture.

It also encourages beneficial soil organisms such as worms, with are crucial for helping to create healthy soil structure.

Examples of good mulch options

• Bark/wood chip - excellent for paths and established plantings, breaking down slowly.

  

  Bark chip mulch

• Garden compost - use the compost from your compost bin or buy ready made compost. This nutrient rich mulch will break down quickly to feed your soil.

  

  well rotted compost

• Manure - use WELL ROTTED manure as a top dressing on your beds to improve soil fertility and retain soil moisture.

  

  well rotted manure mulch

• Strulch - a mineralised organic garden mulch made from wheat straw.

  
  

  

  Strulch