Right soil makes the difference (From Campaign Series)

Right soil makes the difference

3:13pm Wednesday 27th February 2008

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GARDENING expert Roger Crookes writes about his gardening adventures.

Picture the scene if you will; it was one of those lovely spring evenings when you suddenly realise that that winter has finally gone, and it is still sunny and warm at 6 in the evening.

I had been working a long and busy spring day in the Garden centre, plants had been rolling in, rolling out again, drying out, being watered, bursting into flower and just about everything in my little horticultural world seemed to be saying 'hold on tight - here we go again!' However, as is often the case in life, there were some casualties, as the going got tough.

My end of day job was to take a motley collection of substandard plants up to the skip for recycling.

As I was throwing them regretfully into their huge metal coffin, I noticed a little vivid pink flower bud just opening. It was a gorgeous semi double Camellia; all that remained of the plant was just a couple of twisted little stems, a completely dry cluster of roots and just a couple of leaves which were a very sickly yellow. It was definitely a 'skip case', we couldn't sell it, but it seemed to summoning its last breath of life to show me what it could have been if only life had dealt it a kinder hand. So what could I do?

Because I am big softy, I jumped into the skip, wading through that week's smelly accumulation of rubbish, and took my little waif home to beloved...and we both took pity on it.

But now take a look at it!

We tenderly potted her into the right compost for Camellias, put her somewhere quiet and shady, and gave her some encouragement and water every day or two.

That was about 4 years ago, she is now about 4 foot high, and currently has about 100 big fat juicy flower buds, surrounded by glossy rich dark green leaves. Its as if she wants to say thank-you for saving her from the compost heap.

So often clients ask me why their plants or gardens look so....un-happy. Well the answer very often is in the soil. Just as our little Camellia desperately needed the right soil, and plenty of it, your all your plants need good soil.

My experience of houses, which have been built in the last 50 years, is that the soil is terrible and plants just do not perform as a result.

But here is the good news; there is a lot soil and plant recycling going on these days, which means that you can quite easily (and almost cheaply!) take delivery of quite rich soil/compost, to bulk up your borders before you plant them; you will be amazed what a difference it makes to your plants.

Go on, we all like some food now and then, give your plants a treat... and lets see if they pay you back as much as our dear Camellia has - good luck!

Now is the time to As mentioned above now is a great time to feed and add compost to your soil.

The grass is growing now, so it might be prudent to give your lawnmower a clean and service ready for the spring.

If you like the look of our Camellia, now is the best time to pick them up from your local Garden Centre or Nursery. They love to be in a shaded spot, and in the right compost (know in the trade as Ericaceous, or lime free, compost).

Thanks for getting in touch over the last week, please feel free to share any gardening questions or successes at the contact details shown nearby.

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