With the end of the year fast approaching, I thought I would take a look today at some of the gardening products that have caught my eye in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Muddy Thumbs website.
Firstly, I’m sure you’re all aware now that one of the reasons gardening in Perth is such a challenge is because of the hydrophobic soils. This means (to cut a long story short) that they repel water. We’ve been told for years to use wetting agents and I’ve used them now and again with moderate success. However, lately I come across a product called Muddy Thumbs and thought I’d give it a try. I was quite impressed in my own garden and my trials in client gardens turned out very favourably. They are worth seeking out and we will be stocking their product in the new year for use in our maintenance gardens. It isn’t a fully organic product but no wetting agent is, and the benefits to the environment far outweigh this point. They have an interesting website too, check it out at www.muddythumbs.com.au.
Photo courtesy of Troforte website.
Another product that has come to my attention this year is Troforte. This is a slow release fertiliser with added beneficial microbes – a little bit like a pro-biotic for your soil. It isn’t a fully organic product but slow release fertilisers are in many ways more beneficial to the environment than pure organics and Troforte have clearly tried to bring the best of both worlds into this good quality product. My own trials have been very successful for their garden fertilisers and I’ll be trialling their lawns range in the new year. What’s more, this product has been made in Perth and their understanding of our conditions seems second to none. Check out their website http://www.saveyoursoils.com for stockists.
Photo sourced from The Green Life Soil website.
OK, one for the organic gardeners… not a new product but one which I feel has made a significant difference to my veggie growing – rock dust. I’ve trialled this product for the first time this year (yes I know, I’m late to the party) and really feel that it’s made a significant difference to my veggies. I’ve never used anything other than blood and bone, composts and manures to fertilise my veggies but I must admit that this product really seemed to fortify my veggies and I watched them spring out of the ground with good strong fruit that seemed less prone to disease. I found it a very difficult product to find however and have at last found a good supplier in The Green Life Soil Company.
Photo sourced from Neutrogg website.
Lastly everyone who speaks to me regularly knows that I bang on about applying liquid seaweed all the time. Neutrogg Seamungus is my new favourite product because it’s easy to use (granulated), long lasting, great for drought resistance, healthy root development and general health of the soil. I even ground it up and used it in my seedlings this year with great success.
I love hearing about other people’s discoveries, why not share your favourite products and success stories below.