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Down to the Dirt in the Spring Garden

© Gay Klok

On Friday we were visited in the country garden by two gentlemen, one from Queensland and the other chap, is an ex-Queenslander and a new settler in Middleton, Tasmania. They loved the garden but were rather over whelmed by the variety of plants that grow so strongly in the cool temperate climate of Tasmania. Glenn, the Queenslander [mostly tropical conditions] was astonished at the size of many of our Rhododendron bushes [some almost trees] and the lushness that is shown in the growth of many of our ornamental shrubs, trees and conifers. I have used Kees as a measurement stick in some of my photographs attached to this article.

We use no sprays at all in the gardens and do not buy any manufactured food for the plants, only using manure from our small group of steers and soil manufactured [by time] in our compost heap. This compost heap is very badly managed. I did buy a chopper for the larger pieces of branches but we never seem to have time to use the machine. Everything gets thrown onto a large boxed heap of rubbish and it can sometimes reach the size of Mt Versuvius. Quite an interesting sight, especially when stupid ducks choose it as a nest for their dozen plus eggs. One brood has hatched but the second one is running into warm weather so no doubt the eggs will cook before they are hatched. But every three months or so, amazingly, we are able to spade out buckets of lovely, crumbly, rich soil to pamper parts of the garden beds. Creating the correct compost heaps is a science in its own rights and there are many clever books devoted to the subject and these pundits would open their eyes in amazement at our pitiful effort and turn their heads away in disgust.

I make a plea with emphasis, to all gardeners, to make a compost heap. No matter how large or small your garden, the plants need that little bit of pampering and will reward you with their joy giving beauty and healthy growth. Throw everything in it that will break down, paper, vegetable peelings, remains of meals, tea leaves [or put these immediately around your Camellia bush] most weeds, grass clippings, prunings and dead annuals or plants. You should fork it over and sprinkle with water now and again, if time permits!

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