In addition to the positive effects of compost, the green gardener has a wide variety of other soil-enhancing products at his or her fingertips.Green manuresThese are plants that are grown to enrich and protect the soil. They reduce the harmful effects of wind and rain, reduce weeds and can provide nutrients when dug back into the soil. The idea is to grow them on bare soil in winter or between different crops of vegetables in the summer. The types of plant used produce a mass of weed-smothering foliage quickly. They include: alfalfa, mustard, buckwheat, clover, fenugreek, field beans, annual ryegrass and phacelia.

But you should note that seed germination may be inhibited by decaying green manure, so you should leave a gap of at least one month between digging the green manure in and sowing seed.

Leaf mould

This can be used as a mulch, but it is also valuable for digging into the soil or in a seed-sowing or potting compost. Since leaves need more light and less air to rot down than other compostable materials, it is best to compost them in their own container. You can make this using four wooden stakes at least 1 m (1 yd) high, driven into the ground with chicken wire stapled around the outside. Be warned: it can take up to three years before you get good compost from leaf mould, but it is well worth the wait. If you need more leaves, ask your local authority if they could donate some from their autumn sweepings - or collect them yourself.

Manure

Although manure is likely to contain hormones, pesticides and other nasty elements if it comes from a conventional rather than an organic farm, it is thought that if manure is stacked for at least a year these contaminants will not present a problem.

Spent mushroom compost

Again, this will need to be left for at least a year to make sure any chemicals used in mushroom-growing leach out. Don’t use it on acid-loving plants, but it is good for improving heavy clay soils.

Fertilizers

Occasionally, through a lack of readily available compost or severe deficiencies in your soil, you may need to resort to a fertilizer. But even then, there is no need to reach for the synthetic chemicals. There is a wide range of organic fertilizers on sale in both garden centres and by mail order, including: seaweed meal, fish bone and blood, gypsum for heavy clay soils, and hoof and horn. Animal-free products are also available if this is an issue.

Liquid fertilizers or feeds are often used in container gardening and for the green gardener there is a choice of fish emulsion, liquid manure and comfrey liquid (which is highly recommended for tomatoes and peppers). Seaweed extract is also sold as a soil and plant tonic. You can make your own comfrey liquid by growing the plant, soaking the cut leaves in a container with a tight-fitting lid for four to six weeks, and then straining off the liquid.

Mulches

A mulch is a layer of material spread around plants on the soil surface to protect the soil from erosion, reduce water loss and smother weed growth. Some mulches are also biodegradable and therefore able to improve soil structure as they decompose. These organic mulches, which include grass clippings, compost, leaves, bark chippings, straw and manure, are preferable to inorganic mulches like black polythene, carpet or woven plastic. There are also purpose-made mulching fabrics available, including flax or hemp (burlap) fibre matting.

If you use grass clippings, it is best to dry them out in the sun first before applying a layer 5-7 cm (2-3 in) deep, as otherwise they can be too slimy and may suffocate plant roots. Sheets of newspaper can be placed on the ground, covered lightly with grass clippings or another mulch to anchor them, but take care on a windy day! It is best to shred autumn leaves with a lawnmower or shredder first and then compost them over winter before using them as a mulch.

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Green Soil Helpers

If you have a flat roof, balcony, small backyard or just a few window ledges, then container gardening is for you. No matter how small the space available, there is nearly always a container that will fit and an abundant choice of plants to grow in them. We are not just talking pelargoniums and pansies - herbs, dwarf vegetables and some fruits can all be grown in this way and often more easily than in beds, since soil conditions and pest control are far easier to manage in a small defined area.

Lack of shade and wind are possible problems on balconies, roofs and ledges, so it is best to choose low-growing plants and/or plants that will thrive in the sun, such as Mediterranean herbs, vines, tomatoes, shallots and peppers. Wooden trellises can also act as windbreaks.

Another consideration in these areas is the weight of your container - growing a miniature fruit tree may prove too much for your balcony to bear. But you can still cultivate some herbs in a small pot.

TIPS

• Avoid buying new, plastic containers and try to make your own using old car tyres, a tree stump, an old sink, a chimney pot, ceramic bowls, a toilet cistern or an old wheelbarrow. Be sure to drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

• You can ‘age’ containers by coating them in yogurt to promote the growth of lichen.

• Look for organic growing bags instead of the conventional ones. These should contain organic materials, peat from sustainable sources only (if at all), and are reputed to require less feeding and watering. Or try making your own using a sealed strong plastic bag filled with home-made compost, using composted bark instead of peat.

• Growing bags can be recycled. You can use them for potting bulbs or growing hardy annual flowers once your tomatoes and cucumbers have had their go. Or use the contents as mulch, add it to the soil on seedbeds or in seed trays, or add it to your compost heap.

• Avoid using sphagnum moss as a liner in your hanging baskets. Try lining them in recycled wool, coconut fibre or hemp (burlap) fibre instead of moss. These are often biodegradable, from sustainable sources, and hold water well, so reducing the need for watering.

• Be adventurous. Try baby tomatoes; herbs such as sage, chives, parsley and thyme; or strawberries in your hanging baskets. Fig trees, peach trees, dwarf apple trees and grapevines can all be grown in large tubs or pots, while lettuces, oriental greens, chard, spinach and trailing cucumber can thrive on ledges.

• Remember to use your home-made compost in containers. It will enrich the soil and help it retain moisture - a particular problem with container gardening.

• Use a container to make a water feature -attracting useful garden helpers such as frogs and toads and providing valuable water for birds and insects.

Post from: Green Living Earth Friendly

Containers