Page 19 - Irene Farm Village Issue 10 2021

Advertorial

The hoe is used to loosen the soil
and weeds without stepping on the
vegetable patch, and the rake is used
to remove the weeds.

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

The Villager • Issue 10 2021 • 17