11 May 2025
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Time spent nurturing plants keeps money in the bank, says Ruth
In the last issue I explained how having a naturally diverse garden with lots of birds , animals and insects can help keep pest populations low , salve you money on chemical that vote out or endanger everything indiscriminately .
This week I ’m take care at how logical and right plant care will keep your garden productive without the need to buy lots of expensive fertilisers and booster amplifier . The first program line is to always buy works that suit your soil and garden . It ’s well-off to get carried away , but always read the planting label and do n’t be gull into mentation that , for example , an acid - loving plant will be happy in your chalky dirt if you bring it with all the good will , precaution and provender in the world – because it honestly wo n’t .
intelligent plant begin with healthy soil , which is why we strongly advocate making as much compost as you may , to use as a grunge improver and mulch . Classed as ‘ constituent material ’ , it helps to open up up heavy clay soil and helps thin chalky soil bear onto moisture . It also tremendously increases the nutritionary time value of both .
The next step to creating a beautiful garden is to commence with healthy caudex . If you are mature your own from seed , make certain your new plant life are kept somewhere light and fond and well ventilate and that their compost stick around just damp , not sodden . Pot them on when they are large enough and harden them off before add them to the garden .
When buying from a commercial-grade wall plug , ensure plants take care healthy , are well irrigate and ideally grown in peat - devoid compost . Avoid any that are wilting , or have sickly pallid leaves and compost covered with a furry coat of moss . Supermarket plants often attend deplorable and wilted and although they can be revived the process takes a heap out of them and they may not do as well as plants purchased in the peak of health .
Having said that , I do love rescuing plants from the ‘ assist require ’ plane section of garden centres , though I usually go for perennial rather than annuals . If buying online , check the returns and guarantees insurance and verify you get what you ’ve make up for . Then when you ’ve grow your plant home it ’s clip to get planting – see the column , right , for my top tip for successful planting .
Plant wellness
Easy steps to a great garden
1 . support plant in water system for 30 minutes before planting . It saturate their root globe and avail them slue from the slew without roots bind to its sides .
2 . Give plant outer space . closemouthed planting can reduce airflow , encouraging fungal problem such as powdery mildew ( pictured ) and creating a highway for pest . dispatch pests and moved leafage .
3 . Be pest proactive . Surround new plants with woolen pellet to deter slugs and snails and deal with aphids and Caterpillar before a small settlement can become an infestation .
4 . Water sagely , in the morn and evening when temperatures are broken and the body of water slower to vaporize . Direct moisture at the roots , do n’t waste it by drenching foliage and flowers .
Containers and field goal
1 . Because plant in container and baskets do n’t have an endless provision of food and wet they need steady feeding and watering . start out feeding weekly around four weeks after planting and water when compost feels dry .
2 . on-going care ensures plants expand and flower right through summer . Deadhead as shortly as flower fade , to further the works to produce more , and break regularly for pests , specially greenfly and poke and snails hiding under leaves and around the edge of the pot .
