Over the last year I have really been changing my approach to gardening by focusing on the soil, as much, or even more than the plants growing in it. In the end it is the soil that feeds the plants that live in it, making them strong or weak accordingly. The better the soil, the better the plants that live in it. Just like our own gut health, soil digests organic matter, processes nutrients, and supports life, which can be disrupted or killed when chemical compounds are regularly used in the garden.
Soil is not just a static mass of dirt to dig things into, it lives and breathes, stores and transfers nutrients and water, provides stability for roots to grow in and is a significant component of an entire microscopic ecosystem.
It is the way with gardening that sometimes things done do not turn out for the best, damaging or interfering with the ecosystem. This can happen through the use of insecticides, fungicides, and synthetic fertilisers. I have certainly used these things over the years as many others do, all with the very best intentions, and as a way to save time. However, since many of these products were developed, we have come to learn a lot more about soil and now know just how vital it is for the health and productivity of the plants you are growing.
For example, although synthetic fertilisers can feed the plants, they do not feed the soil, so using synthetic fertilisers regularly takes a little more life out of the soil each time it is used. This leads to more pests and disease, requiring more spraying, until the cycle spins out of control – something the marketers of these business know all too well.
So rather than spraying, look down and think about rebuilding your soil. Rather than leaving your garden beds clear over autumn and winter consider doing some work with them so they do not stay in a cold and saturated state. Think compost, aged manure, straw and humus-rich matter and get layering and adding and encouraging the soil to live and grow.
Enjoy - playing in the soil, making mud pies, is there anything better!
Peter