Gordon Gnohm

A simple way to revive a lacklustre tree is to clear competitive grasses and mulch it. If you have normal grasses around the trunk and drip line, then a super low mow will do the job. Water deeply, the night before, then heavily mulch (200mm+) from the trunk out to the drip line with woody feeder mulch.

Mulch plays a critical role in every ecosystem on earth. It comes in many forms, but the same thing happens where the mulch touches the surface of the soil. Theres a party going on for the roots of your plants. 

If you aren’t using mulch you are growing in dirt, not soil.

If you’ve ever stood next to a shed in summer, or metal fence, you’ve felt heat transfer. In a raised metal garden, the heat is transferred to the soil and plant roots, ok for spring but not summer, or winter.

Freezing temps will transfer into your raised soil. Smaller beds might freeze through, stunting winter veggies and if your raised beds don’t get morning sun, they

One of the most important skills you can learn in your garden is to strike your own seeds.

It can appear somewhat of a mystical art, especially if you’ve ever had a go, so heres the Good Oil.

The hero of summer vegetable gardens everywhere, but growing tomatoes in our Unpredictable Highland Climate, can be frustrating and unproductive. A bit of know-how, applied logic and good timing, you’ll get a crop by Christmas, probably…

I have found it problematic to import soil. Sometimes it’s hydrophobic, too acid, too alkaline, sometimes it’s good. In spring and summer, I find it harder to get well composted soil. I care most about weed seeds, and I haven’t found a commercial soil that didn’t have a decent load of seed in it