How to garden on sandy soil скачать в хорошем качестве

How to garden on sandy soil

Soil is the foundation of any garden, but not all soils are the same. Josh is here to show you how to handle sandy soils and get the most out of them for your garden When Josh performs this test with soil taken from his front verge, the 'sausage' breaks apart quickly because it has a higher content of coarse particles like sand. The soil on his verge “has had little improvement”, and is likely pretty close to what you’re going to find in much of Perth or other coastal areas. HYDROPHOBIA The first challenge is that sandy soils tend to be non-wetting or water repellent. Perth has some of the most hydrophobic soils in the world. It’s caused because when organic matter breaks down, it coats the large sand particles with a waxy substance. For immediate remedy, the best way to treat bone dry soils is using an organic wetting agent. Wetting agents breaks down the waxy substance and allows the water to penetrate. This is best done at planting time, to ensure new roots will engage with the surrounding soil to find water. Josh uses an organic, humic acid based wetting agent as synthetic surfactants can have harmful effects on amphibians. ORGANIC MATTER AND MULCH However, surfactants are really just a remedy when something’s gone wrong. You really want to think about improving the soil structure long-term. This needs two things; organic matter and time. Organic matter will improve the soil’s capacity to retain water and nutrient, and add microbial life. You can use aged manure or compost, the main concern is volume as you’re going to need a significant amount to change the structure of a soil. Another addition Josh has found useful is adding clay. Two commonly used clays are bentonite and kaolin clay. When they’re added to the soil, they change the texture permanently. The clay helps hold onto moisture and nutrients. Josh recommends adding at least half a kilo per square metre dug in to the top 15 to 20 centimetres of soil. If you want to, you can apply up to one or even one and a half kilos per square metre, but make sure it’s really well worked in. For more plants that require more intensive care, smaller areas can be deeply enriched to a greater degree. You can see that with the soil in Josh’s vegie patch. Over years this soil has been improved to feed the hungry shallow roots of his vegetables, but this sort of approach wouldn’t be practical over a larger area. You can also use this approach to spot improve areas of your garden. Josh uses this approach to improve the soil around his fruit trees over time (As the trees grow he adds more organic matter and clay, ensuring that as this material breaks down their roots will have more improved soil to grow into. Finally, mulch. This regulates soil temperature, protects microbes from harsh UV, while suppressing weeds and reducing evaporation, keeping water in the soil for longer. Soils left bare and exposed to the elements are quicker to degrade in structure and more likely to become hydrophobic. Josh is using pea straw which is quick to break down and helps feed the soil, but any straw-based sourced locally are best. Watch Gardening Australia on ABC iview: http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/gard... SUBSCRIBE: http://ab.co/GardeningYouTube About Gardening Australia: Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content. Connect with other Gardening Australia fans: Like Gardening Australia on Facebook:   / gardeningaustralia   Follow Gardening Australia on Instagram:   / gardeningaustralia   Visit the Gardening Australia website: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel. ******** Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use http://www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).