In the Garden with Gwen Hill
Summertime at the beach: swimming, fishing, surfing, making the most of the long hot days. Whilst it’s imperative to keep the water up to the garden, front of mind should also be the fertility of your soil. Here the sea is your inspiration because seaweed, sea water and sand all improve your garden’s health.
Seaweed is nature’s soil conditioner. The amazing thing about seaweed is that it rejects salt, which means you can put it straight on your garden without washing it. It breaks down quickly, so spread it around thickly but be careful with the acid lovers, like your camellias and azaleas – they won’t like the bits of sand and sea creatures that might be lurking within the weed.
Undiluted sea water can be used as a weedkiller and, heavily watered down, used directly on your plants as a tonic because it contains trace elements.
So next time you’re by the seaside, grab a bag of seaweed and a bucket of sea water and bring the beach home to your garden.
Tip of the month
Container plants, especially those in terracotta pots, are at their most vulnerable over the long summer months. It’s a mistake to stand them in saucers of water as this encourages root rot and provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. It’s best to move them to a spot out of the westerly sun and keep them mulched to conserve moisture. Instead of water, use damp sand to keep your pots cool – your plants will thank you for it, even if the mozzies don’t! 