Every plant needs certain nutrients. And every good garden starts with great soil. The exchange of nutrients at a molecular level is fascinating to me, but I understand not everyone shares my passion for dirt, so I'll just list some urls at the end of this article if you want to do some further reading.
For this article, I'll talk about compost and how to get some, and what to do if your soil is poor.
What? Do you think compost is too much trouble? Did I tell you about the 12 foot tall comfrey I had growing in pure compost? How about the Graham Thomas that bore 200 or so blooms at one time, growing in compost enriched soil? Yes.. 200, and yes, I counted.
The site I've linked to above, has a wealth of composting information, and in much greater detail than I have room for here in this article. Compost bins do not have to be ugly, or even bins. You can compost in a trench, hole, or a mound on top of the ground if you don't care what it looks like.
What is it? Basically, it is rotted organic material that has broken down into dark, nutrient rich "stuff" that your plants will adore. I admit to adoring it myself, as it smells of promise and sweet brown earth, two of my favorite perfumes.
Lawn clippings, some dried, some still green, and a wealth of kitchen waste can go into your compost. There are other things you can use, and the list linked to is extremely comprehensive. Not only will you be creating Black Gold, but your garbage can be substantially reduced.
If you already have an established garden, and cannot work in a goodly amount of compost from the beginning, do not dispair. Top dressing with compost also works very well, and compost tea is one of the best ways to give you plants a tonic rich in what they crave.
To top dress, simply work your dark crumbly compost around the plant(s) just at the drip line. This is an imaginary line drawn perpendicularly from the outer most leaves, to the earth. Work it in gently, with small tools or, like me, with your hands. I cannot keep mine off that glorious stuff.
