Eynsford Gardeners' Club

Soiled Again!

 

If you are looking for things to do in your garden at this time of year, I would recommend that you consider your soil.  It might not seem very exciting to us, but it is the elixir of life for your garden. Healthy soil will lead to healthy plants.  

 

For those of you who, like me, are followers of The Archers, you will probably have heard about their soil challenge, ‘Soiled Pants’; the residents of Ambridge were challenged to dig in a pair of cotton pants into their soil and leave them there for a few months.  The winner was the person whose pants had rotted most, indicating healthy soil.  Lots of holes meant the bacteria, fungi and worms were working well!  I’m not suggesting that the Eynsford Gardeners’ Club should set this as a challenge……, well maybe we should!

 

Soil degradation is a global challenge, but we can take steps in our own gardens to build up the soil structure and organic matter.  Soil is made up of five things: air, water, organic matter (remnants of plant and animal life), minerals and living organisms (such as bacteria and worms).  You can improve your soil in several ways.  

 

• Feed your soil by adding organic matter on a regular basis. Ideally create your own compost bay and leaf mulch and put this on your flower/vegetable beds.  Composting is such a satisfying activity as you can see the contents sink down and create dark, healthy soil. It’s magic!  In Kent we don’t have a facility for recycling our waste food, but if you create a compost bin, all your uncooked food waste can be recycled.  Also, I put in thin cardboard (eg egg boxes, loo rolls), shredded paper, used tissues and anything that will rot down quickly.  Leaf mulch does not contain any nutrients, but it is good for improving soil structure.

 

• When you plant a new plant add some compost to the soil around the plant, and some natural fertilizer such as Growmore.

 

• Try not to overwork your soil; ideas such as No Dig will help to avoid destroying the soil structure.  

 

• Try not to compact your soil and avoid covering large surfaces with non-permeable materials, therefore sealing the soil.  The soil needs to breath.  

 

Other things to do in your garden:

• Trim apple and pear trees, cutting out dead, diseased and damaged wood. Also cut out some of the centre of the tree making it easier to pick the crop later in the year.

• Order new seeds and plan what and where you are going to plant.

 

Eynsford Gardeners’ Club had a very successful and fun 2022.  We hope that 2023 will be as rewarding.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Club please look at our website: egclub.co.uk.    Our first show of 2023 is the Spring Show due to be held on Saturday 25 March at 2pm in Eynsford Village Hall.

 

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening Year to everyone!

​

Kaz Langridge