Entries for the 'SOIL AND FEEDING ' Category

The purpose of adding compost to the soil is to improve and develop it over a period of time. Spreading fresh manure, or compost that has not properly decomposed, is liable to have the opposite affect.

Understanding the real reason for DIY composting, can make you a better gardener!

The use of automatic fertilizer pumps undoubtedly brings with it impressive results at the start of a garden’s life. The problems however, start later.

There are some perfectly valid reasons for not using chemical fertilizers on your garden plants, although many of the commonly held objections are more myth than reality.

While adding organic matter in the form of compost is essential for the health of the soil, feeding plants growing in containers generally requires the use of chemical fertilizers. Here are some tips especially for Mediterranean climate gardeners.

In dry, Mediterranean and hot summer regions, it makes a good deal of sense to get the job of feeding the garden plants completed at the very onset of spring or even at the end of winter. There are two compelling reasons for this.

Spreading a decent layer of natural mulch on the soil, is an essential part gardening in a hot, dry climate.

Bringing in garden soil from an unknown source could ruin your garden. Remember that cheap is dear!

Choosing the right soil type can be crucial for the success of your plants. It might also save you a lot of water and money

What causes iron deficiency in plants, and when and how should it be treated.

Despite the many benefits associated with mulching garden beds, its use is not always desirable. To get the most from a mulch, it’s necessary to choose the right type and to use it correctly.

Nitrogen deficiency will significantly stunt the growth and development of your garden plants. Throwing on soluble fertilizer will give you immediate results, but at the price of polluting lakes, rivers and the water table.

Adding plenty of humus to the soil and protecting the soil’s surface with a layer of organic mulch, is necessary for gardens in all parts of the world. For gardens in hot dry and Mediterranean climates, it is absolutely essential.

It is absolutely necessary that the garden plants have an adequate supply of phosphorus. It is not always straight forward to apply it effectively though.

With manufacturers of fertilizer products proclaiming that compost is not fertilizer, you may be confused as to the best way to feed your garden plants.

Do not be fooled into believing that the trace elements are any less important for plant nutrition than nitrogen or phosphorus. This article shows the dry climate gardener in particular, how to ensure that the garden plants receive what they need.

Spring is the best time for feeding your plants, and in most cases, adding organic compost is the best way of doing so, especially in dry climate gardens.

The problems surrounding the application of potassium fertilizer, demonstrate that plant feeding cannot be separated from the health of the soil. In dry climates where soil salinity is increasingly acute, the issue is of particular importance.

Virtually all horticultural experts today adopt the holistic approach to pest control known as Integrated Pest Management or IPM. This article explains what it is, and how it can be applied.

If you’re planning to spend a lot of money setting up a new garden, or re-planting a run-down border, you may wish to consider hiring a reputable company to conduct a far-reaching soil test. It might make the difference between success and failure.

There are so many products on display at the garden centers, and so much advice being given, that no wonder many home gardeners are confused not to say bemused when it comes to feeding their plants. The purpose of this article is to show you that the decision you end up making on what to use in the garden, can really be quite simple.

Caring for the soil, ought to be the number one priority of anyone who owns a garden

The next time someone tries to convince you that you "have to" install an automatic fertilizer system to feed your garden plants, I'd like to suggest that you take into account the following points.

There are numerous benefits to the healthy growth and development of garden plants by hoeing the soil, but these are all matched by mulching. Despite its initial cost, mulching is preferable to hoeing.