Page 31 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Experienced gardeners can make their own
compost instead of relying on pre-processed
commercial fertilisers. Home-made compost
is cheap, good for improving the soil, and can
be made in a compost bin.

The compost bin should be positioned in a
sheltered and partially shaded area in order to
ensure that its contents don’t dry out or get
washed away by the rain. When setting up the
bin, it’s important to make sure that insects
and worms can access it. They help transform
kitchen and garden waste into valuable plant
food. Using a mouse-proof mesh prevents rats
and larger vermin from getting into the bin.
3. makinG tHe PerFeCt
Fertiliser – laYer bY laYer
There are a few things to consider when
starting a compost heap. The bottom layer
should be composed of cut-up branches
and leaves, allowing air and crucial animal
helpers to enter. This is followed by a layer
of garden soil, which provides the compost
with microorganisms. Only then is it time to tissue lying between the green vegetation of hand pressure pumps for application of liquid
add the kitchen waste: eggshells, fruit peels, the grass above and the root system and soil fertilisers; or fertiliser spreaders for granular
tea leaves and coffee grounds, as well as small below, that could be bad for the health of your application for all garden sizes.
amounts of paper – these make delicious lawn, in which case deep raking is required.
snacks for the animal compost workers. 5. GarDen roses
Round off their meal with lightly dried grass If your lawn gets heavy traffic, such as lots of When planning to plant roses, ensure that the
clippings and mulched leaves. Garden centres running and playing in the same spot, this area chosen in the garden has enough room
sell compost accelerators (also called compost can cause soil compaction. In this case, the for the roses to flourish. Soak the roots in
starters or activators) and rock dust to give soil needs aeration. A lawn aerator creates water for a few hours before planting them in
the compost a loose consistency. These aid openings in lawn turf that allow water and air the new bed. Dig a generously sized hole and
in decomposition and prevent waterlogging to penetrate the soil and reach the grass roots. add some bone meal and compost to help
and bad smells, in addition to promoting a the roses get started. Roses don’t like being
fine, crumbly texture.
Lawns can be fertilised organically by crowded, so be sure to leave enough space
topdressing with compost or using a between the plants. Lavender is a classic
A few weeks after the compost heap has been mulching mower to chop lawn clippings companion plant, with minimal nutrient
constructed, when it has reduced by about into a nourishing source of nitrogen. But, for requirements, that supports the growth of
a third, it can be sifted or turned. Both these those who prefer the fast-acting effects of a the neighbouring roses. Once the roses have
tasks serve to aerate and mix the compost. chemical fertiliser, Gardena has a range of rooted deeply and are able to draw water
With the ergonomic GARDENA Ergoline range
of large tools, the D-handle on the tools
allows soil to be worked easily and effectively.
The perfect tool for turning the compost is
the Ergoline Fork. The compost will be ready
for use as a fertiliser after an estimated time
period of 8 months.
Specially designed tool gloves offer a
reliable helping hand when composting. The
padded palms provide extra grip during the
construction of the heap, when cutting up
branches and when turning the soil, as well
as helping to absorb the impact when using
garden tools. To ensure a secure grip on the
tools, the palms of the gloves are coated
with silicone. Gardena garden gloves are
also certified to OEKO-TEX standards. The
new range of gloves has an added feature
of Mobile Touch function on the thumb and
index finger – so there’s no need to remove
your gloves to handle your mobile phone.
4. laWn Care
Preparing the lawn in spring will ensure that
the greenery lasts well into summer and will
foster a healthy lawn.

Raking is the first thing you need to do when
getting your lawn ready for new growth.

If your grass has a layer of dead turfgrass

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 5 2021• 29