September From The Potting Shed
What an interesting year we have had in the garden this year. Our changeable climate is giving us lots to think about. One of the terms being used at the moment is ‘resilience gardening’. It is about looking at our gardens seeing what plants are coping with the changes and how they are coping.
Each site will be different as the soil, aspect and plants used will have a different response to the changes even in a small community.
Looking after our soil is one of the main ways we can build resilience in our gardens. Ditch the brown bin and make your own compost. Anything that is or was growing in your garden can be made into compost. If you have a lot of woody material then invest in a shredder. The new quiet drum shredders are brilliant cutting up to 45mm diameter wood as well as all your non woody material. A Dalek compost bin will be fine for most small gardens – 2 would be even better.
Compost will improve the soil, build in greater water holding capacity as well as allowing better drainage in wet weather and very importantly increase the biodiversity that has been lost in our soils by constant cultivation and no organic material being added to it. If you want more advice on how to compost come and visit the Froyle Gardening Club Autumn show we will be happy to give you details on how to compost.
As to the rest of the garden, keep deadheading, forget about the lawn until we get some moisture in
the soil and just look at what is doing well and enjoy that.
Geoff Hawkins.