You probably know someone who has a beautiful garden that they seem to effortlessly nurture, filled with fragrant blooms or a bountiful harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are in on a little secret. The key to growing robust plants is about understanding the basics things like orientation, nutrition, hydration, sunshine, plant species and soil type. Finding the perfect balance with these things will help your garden thrive.
Colin Purnell from Earthlife says minerals, microbes and moisture are the three most critical elements. Besides ensuring your plants have sufficient moisture, sourcing the right microbial rock mineral product will help to encourage healthy plants. "Microbial technology adds beneficial microbes and fungi species to the soil,” he says. Colin adds that it’s important to source products with a high silica (over 10 per cent) content. “This improves cell structure, creating thicker cell walls in plants, which in turn enhances moisture movement through the plant, helping to reduce insect and disease issues,” he adds.
“The soil in Australia is already compromised, as stated in the 1992 Earth Summit — information shows soils are 55 per cent mineral depleted,” says Colin. Adding compost and manure provides organic material to the soil, but they aren’t offering sufficient minerals to address the mineral depletion issue.
FINDING THE RIGHT SITE FOR YOUR GARDEN BED
Esta historia es de la edición Backyard & Outdoor Living 63 de Backyard & Outdoor Living.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Backyard & Outdoor Living 63 de Backyard & Outdoor Living.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Eco chic
Do your bit for the environment without compromising on style
Overachiever
Get the most out of your outdoor space
Backyard cabin fever
Tips on building a flatpack shed in your backyard
All decked out
What is the better building material to use around the home?
Make your garden glow
Amp up the wow factor in your backyard and extend your living after sunset
Colour chard
Though many aren't sure of the difference between silverbeet, kale and spinach, there's no mistaking rainbow chard
A savory character
This tasty Mediterranean herb has long tradition in both cooking and folk medicine
Allium invasion
Unbelievers may call it stinking rose, but cooks and gardeners have long prized fragrant garlic
Keep it natural
Elevate your outdoors with stone pavers
Get ready for spring
Winter is the perfect time to prepare for the growing season, as long as you have the right partner