Ahh…the Joy of Spring
By May, all gardeners’ fingers are itching to get into the sweet-smelling earth. We’ve dreamt all winter and poured over gardening books and seed catalogues for new ideas for our gardens. The decisions are endless: what colours, where to plant that new plant or shrub, what new ideas are there for our planters. Oh, the dilemmas!
One of the big conundrums is how to revitalize the soil in your old plant pots. You can save money and reinvigorate your soil with a half hour of work. Haul out the wheelbarrow, put a screen across the top (use an old household screener or the top of an old double boiler) and voila, you’re in business.
Pull the old plants out and any mulch you may have had on top and put that in the City of Calgary compost bin. Some of the roots may already be composted; remove any pests that you come across. Remember that spider mites don’t survive the winter. Whew!
Screen the soil into the wheelbarrow and remove the larger roots, though it’s not essential. If you find good earthworms, keep them in the soil. If you’ve been using your pots and soil for a few years, it’s a good idea to amend the soil with peat moss or coconut coir, available at garden centres or Lee Valley. To hold the water in the pot, add some new potting soil and compost you may have made or purchased: three portions of soil to one of compost.
Add a little mycorrhiza, which provides an intimate association between the tubular filaments of a fungus and the plant’s root; it’s a great addition to your soil. Many garden centres will double the length of your guarantee on your shrubs if you use mycorrhiza when you plant them.
Another great way to keep your potted plants healthy is by adding a layer of horticultural charcoal to the pot. This absorbs excess water from the roots of your plant and keeps the soil “sweet” by guarding against bacteria, fungus, and rot.
Plants need organic and inorganic material to thrive. An addition of a little sand, silt, or clay adds the mineral nutrients that plants require. Happily, Calgary has clay in abundance. The clay, sand, or silt acts as a binding agent between soil particles and gives soil elasticity. It also provides calcium, magnesium, and potassium that plants need to thrive.
Thoroughly enjoy getting your hands dirty in this magical mixture!
Joey Stewart has an award-winning garden in Glengarry.
Click here to the Killarney-Glengarry Community News home page for the latest Killarney-Glengarry community updates.
