| Many people forget that a crucial element in soil is air. | | | | To prepare the sand you can start with any grade, but |
| Air is the driving force in stimulating soil life. | | | | the coarser it is, the less work you will have. Take a |
| Microorganisms, earthworms, biotic activity, all rely on a | | | | kitchen sieve and place a couple of cups of sand in it. |
| good supply of air. That's the reason for the standard | | | | Fill a large bucket with water. Now jiggle the sieve in |
| caution against working the soil too early in the year. | | | | the water so that small particles get washed out into |
| Tilling wet soil will destroy its structure, compact the soil, | | | | the water (they settle at the bottom eventually). Keep |
| and squeeze out the air. When you compress the air | | | | doing this until no more particles wash through the |
| out of the soil, you kill everything in it. So treat your soil | | | | holes. Keep the sand that is in the sieve - it is called |
| gently, avoid walking on it when it's wet this applies | | | | 'coarse sharp sand'. This process is important, as it |
| especially to lawns. | | | | eliminates the small sand particles and silt that lock up |
| Utilizing Ashes | | | | the structure of the sand. Without removing this fine |
| Those spent ashes at the bottom of your fireplace | | | | stuff most seed will rot rather than germinate. |
| can be recycled as a great source of nutrients for | | | | During summer it is also possible to dry the sand and |
| your plants. Collect the ashes and keep them in a | | | | sift it dry to get the bulk of the fine stuff out. It should |
| sealed container to use in the spring. When your plants | | | | however still be washed at least once. |
| are in full bloom in the spring, sprinkle the ashes around | | | | For difficult or slow seed it is recommended to sterilise |
| the flowers and vegetables. The ashes have all kinds | | | | the sand just before use by baking on a shallow tray |
| of minerals that keep plants healthy all season long. | | | | in the oven at 200deg C for 2 hours. |
| Wood ash is also an excellent material to add around | | | | Lawn sand is a combined weed killer and lawn |
| the garden. Fruit trees certainly benefit from having | | | | fertiliser, (comprising ammonium sulphate, iron sulphate |
| them mixed into the soil around the base of the tree. | | | | and fine sand). It should be applied between April and |
| Sand: | | | | September in dry conditions, but preferably when rain |
| Sand may be described as sharp, soft, fine or coarse. | | | | is expected within a couple of days. Follow the |
| Sharp and soft refers to the shape of the grains | | | | application instructions on the packet, but do not |
| irrespective of size. Fine or coarse refer to the grain | | | | exceed the stated application rate otherwise the grass |
| size irrespective of shape. | | | | may be killed. The grass may black but quickly |
| Sharp sand is the most useful germination medium | | | | recover. Annual use, will also keep worms, and |
| available. It is better and more environmentally friendly | | | | therefore worm casts off the lawn. |
| than perlite and is reusable in making good quality | | | | Find tips about fern life cycle and autumn fern at the |
| potting mixes. | | | | Plants And Flowers website. |