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Soil and fertilisers

Soil and fertilisers are an essential part of gardening. Provide a good foundation for your plants and flowers and they will surely thrive! Here in Poynings, you find everything you need to improve the soil underneath your feet. Choose from a huge range of bagged composts, soil improvers and fertilisers to keep container plants happy and your soil in tip-top health.

How to prepare your soil

The soil has an enormous impact on the growth and health of your plants. Make sure your plants get everything they need by following these steps:

  • determine what kind of soil you have in your garden: sandy soils usually do not contain a lot of nutrients, whereas silty soils do not drain, just like clay soils which tend to be hard;
  • test the pH (potential of Hydrogen) of your soil. You can do this yourself by using a soil test kit or you can hire a professional to do it. Testing the pH of your soil determines its fertility potential;
  • keep your soil moist, but avoid overwatering. Healthy soil has a water percentage of 25 per cent;
  • use as little pesticides as necessary or look for organic alternatives. Pesticides may harm your soil because they are very toxic;
  • mulch your soil to minimise water loss through evaporation and suppress the growth of weeds. Mulch also helps to keep the soil cool during the summer and improve the aeration of the soil.

Adding compost or other organic matter to your soil greatly benefits its fertility without damaging plant roots.

Soil - Rushfields

Composts, soil improvers and fertilisers for a healthy soil

In our garden centre in Poynings you find a great variety of composts and fertilisers. Multipurpose compost is perfect for container-grown beddings, cuttings and potting on. Specialist composts are tailor-made for the needs of plants, from citruses to roses. Soil improvers like farmyard manure and composted bark beef up poorer soils and keep your plants growing strong and healthy. Mix the improver with your soil when planting to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Fertilisers include liquid feeds such as liquid seaweed and tomato feed to encourage flowering and fruiting. Add slow-release fertilisers such as bone meal to plant holes and mix granular feeds into potting composts for feed-and-go convenience.  

Keep taking care of your soil for the best results

Preparing your soil is not something you do in one day: it is a continuous process. Drain the soil when there is too much water on top of it by using a drainpipe. Apply fertiliser when the soil does not have enough minerals and nutrients from itself. Till the soil when it is dry, not when it is wet. Do you want more advice on taking care of your soil? Ask our staff at the garden centre in Poynings, we are more than happy to help you!