Page 27 - FWG 9 October 2021

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to be provided with nutrients before they
can bear fruit or show off their colours.
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.
the soil, as well as helping to absorb the of the grass above and the root system and
3. Making the perfect fertiliser – layer impact when using garden tools. To ensure soil below, that could be bad for the health
by layer a secure grip on the tools, the palms of the of your lawn, in which case deep raking is
There are a few things to consider when gloves are coated with silicone. Gardena required.
starting a compost heap. The bottom layer garden gloves are also certified to OEKO-
should be composed of cut-up branches TEX standards. The new range of gloves has If your lawn gets heavy traffic, such as lots of
and leaves, allowing air and crucial animal an added feature of Mobile Touch function running and playing in the same spot, this
helpers to enter. This is followed by a layer on the thumb and index finger – so there’s can cause soil compaction. In this case, the
of garden soil, which provides the compost no need to remove your gloves to handle soil needs aeration. A lawn aerator creates
with microorganisms. Only then is it time your mobile phone. openings in lawn turf that allow water and
to add the kitchen waste: eggshells, fruit air to penetrate the soil and reach the grass
peels, tea leaves and coffee grounds, as well 4. Lawn care roots.
as small amounts of paper – these make Preparing the lawn in Spring will ensure
delicious snacks for the animal compost that the greenery lasts well into Summer Lawns can be fertilised organically by
workers. Round off their meal with lightly and will foster a healthy lawn. topdressing with compost or using a
dried grass clippings and mulched leaves. mulching mower to chop lawn clippings
Garden centres sell compost accelerators Raking is the first thing you need to do into a nourishing source of nitrogen. But,
(also called compost starters or activators) when getting your lawn ready for new for those who prefer the fast-acting effects
and rock dust to give the compost a loose growth. of a chemical fertiliser, Gardena has a range
consistency. These aid in decomposition of hand pressure pumps for application of
and prevent waterlogging and bad smells, If your grass has a layer of dead turfgrass liquid fertilisers; or fertiliser spreaders for
in addition to promoting a fine, crumbly tissue lying between the green vegetation granular application for all garden sizes.
texture.

A few weeks after the compost heap has
been constructed, when it has reduced by
about a third, it can be sifted or turned.
Both these tasks serve to aerate and
mix the compost. 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

Fourways Gardens • 25 • October 2021