When working in the garden it is always important to remember good health and safety practice. There are risks involved with gardening and it is important to be aware of these and how to minimise the chances of being affected. It is important to always follow the guidelines on bagged products and read the warning labels associated with the product. Here are some general safety tips to think about next time you head out to the garden.

Composting is a method of speeding up the decomposition of organic materials. The ingredients are made into a heap of at least 1 cubic metre. Heat given off by microorganisms inside the heap is trapped there by the insulation provided by the outer few centimetres. Inside temperature rises and so does the rate of decomposition. Composting is most rapid when the heap is made with the ‘right’ ingredients and turned frequently.

WHY MULCH?

A garden soil without mulch is much more time consuming to maintain because the soil dries out rapidly between watering or rainfall, and therefore more frequent watering is required. When the soil surface is bare and exposed, weed seeds can easily take root, and these weeds will compete with your plants for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. Bare soil, whether it is sandy or clay, becomes hard baked on the surface, and this means that watering and feeding are difficult because the moisture won’t penetrate.