| All soils need conditioning and improving - mainly | | | | These are usually made from animal manures and |
| because each year the plants that grow there are | | | | are often more concentrated in nutrients, so |
| taking valuable nutrients from it in order for them | | | | applied more sparingly. This means that they are |
| to grow and flourish. Improving soil with manures | | | | not as valuable in improving soil texture and |
| and fertilizers will go a long way to creating the | | | | structure simply because their application rates |
| beautiful plants and flowers you want from your | | | | are lower. |
| garden. | | | | Peat |
| Spent Hops | | | | Current concern about our disappearing peat bogs |
| A by-product of the brewing industry. Although | | | | has meant that peat is now frowned upon as a |
| smelly, this is a good soil conditioner and one | | | | soil conditioner. From the gardener's point of view, |
| which is easy to handle. You might have to live | | | | as well as the conservationist's, this is a good |
| with an 'aromatic' garden for a few days | | | | thing. All the other soil conditioners mentioned here |
| afterwards. | | | | contain a certain amount of plant food, as well as |
| Leaf Mould | | | | being bulky and therefore improving the soil |
| Autumn leaves can be rotted down in a wire | | | | structure. Peat contains no food at all - its only |
| netting enclosure of their own and then used as | | | | value is in its structure. Because of this, its |
| soil enrichment. Sweep them up while they are | | | | greatest value is as an ingredient of seed and |
| damp, pile them into the wire-netting enclosure | | | | potting composts as a soil conditioner. |
| and, like compost, keep them firm and moist. In a | | | | Application Rates |
| year's time they will have turned into crumbly leaf | | | | Generally speaking, one or two bucketfuls of |
| mould. | | | | organic matter can be dug or forked into 1 |
| Composted Bark | | | | square meter (1 square yard) of soil. Use your |
| A by-product of the forestry industry, this is | | | | discretion - if your ground looks very hungry, go |
| usually pine bark which has been pulverized and | | | | for the heavier application rate. Your plants will |
| composted. | | | | grow better as a result. Dig the enrichment into |
| Domestic Waste | | | | newly cultivated ground during the autumn and |
| Many local authorities and some water companies | | | | winter months or at planting time, or lay it on the |
| are now producing their own soil enrichment, | | | | surface of the soil between established plants as |
| which is based on domestic waste (both | | | | an 8-cm (3-in) thick mulch in spring when the soil |
| household and sewage) and composted straw. It | | | | is moist. It will help keep down weeds and seal in |
| is clean, recycled and perfectly safe to use. | | | | moisture. |
| Proprietary Soil Conditioners | | | | |