We can't promise the best summer weather, but we have some tips to help your garden's vitality. The soil in your garden is critically important to the way your plants will bed in and grow.
At Homefire, we supply a wide range of gardening products to spruce up your garden this summer. Read on to find the best ways to manage your soil or jump straight to the garden collection here.
Maintain pH Levels
You first need to measure your soil's acid and alkaline levels. The ideal soil is finely balanced, promoting better growth for plants that will live in it. If your soil has high levels of alkaline or acid, it could ruin the environment plants need to thrive.
The best way to rebalance soil pH if it's acidic is to squeeze some lime onto it, making growth more likely. For alkaline soils, sulphur is the best approach. Regularly assessing the pH levels of your soil can help you maintain your garden in the best way possible. In the UK, most plants grow best in soils that are slightly acidic to neutral. A pH between 6 and 7.5 is generally a good sign that your soil is well-suited for healthy plant growth.
How to Identify the pH of Your Soil at Home?
Let's get straight to it... the easiest way to test your soil is to use a simple pH kit, which can be purchased from most garden centres. Or if you're a bit more handy in the garden and have a creative flare, try this quick DIY trick: take two small samples of soil. Pour vinegar on one and if it fizzes, your soil's likely alkaline (high pH). Then add baking soda to the other, and if that bubbles, it's probably acidic (low pH).
Weeding and Watering
No matter how much care you take of your garden, weeds can grow and disrupt its state. You should remove weeds from your soil as frequently as possible so there's space for healthy plants to grow. Weeds will use the nutrients fed to the soil when they could instead be used by the plants you want to see.
There's a delicate balance between underwatering and overwatering your soil. If you overwater soil, you could drown it and not provide any room for essential oxygen. Likewise, not watering your soil enough can dehydrate it and reduce the likelihood that anything will grow healthily. Keep an eye on your weather forecast; if a lot of rain is due, you won't need to water your soil often. Water your garden at least once or twice a week during particularly dry spells.
Consider Organic Matter
Compost is your garden's best friend. It contains many nutrients your soil needs and helps drainage, so the right amount of moisture and air can help your growth. You should always use the best quality compost for increased chances of vitality.
Many people with allotments use horse manure on their soil for better activity, resulting in greater vegetation, so there's no reason you can't use it for your home garden either. Pour a healthy amount of manure on the soil and see your garden's vitality improve as a result.
Homefire sells a range of gardening products that will help you enjoy your time in the garden this summer and reap the rewards. Explore the entire range here.
