Catch More Fish? - Feb 28, 2009
With Autumn approaching many people will be looking at replacing all those plants that got killed by the heat. I often see people in the nursery with trolleys full of plants but they buy no soil improvement products. The Macarthur area has a varied soil structure with sandy soils in Elderslie and solid clay soils in most other suburbs. If you dig a hole in clay and plant a shrub it will invariably struggle its entire short life.
A couple of years ago I said to my staff that we should tell people about “ Planting Compost “. My apprentice at the time thought I was just trying to make him sell more product so I could make more money. My response to that accusation was if you were planting a shrub in your garden would you use planting compost? Yes, he replied . Do you think customers would like to know about a product that made their plants grow faster? Yes, he replied. Well don’t sell it to them but just tell them about the product and let them decide I said.
Planting Compost is an essential product if you want your plants to grow well in our terrible soils. It contains compost which helps break down the clay. The compost retains more moisture and releases nutrients that feed your plants. Greengold Planting Compost has added organic fertiliser and a wetting agent. We have had great success with this product in our nursery.
When planting shrubs don’t just fill the hole with planting compost. You need to mix the planting compost with the existing soil. One bag of compost is enough to plant about 3 shrubs. Mulch around the base to help stop the moisture evaporating and your plants will thrive using less water. We want you to have success gardening because like fishing, if you catch fish you are more likely to go fishing.
Tim Pickles is a horticulturist and director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown. 46267022