Talborne talks the pros of good soil health in residential settings and beyond.
Any new landscape installation or maintenance project will only be as good as the foundation that it was built on – the SOIL that sustains it, and all life around it. The Organic philosophy is that all health starts in fertile soil:
“a healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy people and animals = healthy environment for all”
Too often a beautiful, creative design is installed without proper organic methods of soil preparation being done. This can ruin your project and your reputation.
Rather do the following:
- Correct the pH, to remediate excess acidic or alkaline soils before planting
- Add compost, for soil conditioning structure of clay or sandy soils
- Use organic fertilizer with planting, for plant establishment and growth.
- Remove building rubble, do not use as landfill for planting areas as this is toxic to plants
- Ensure correct structural groundworks, replace fertile topsoil to plant in as subsoil is unsuitable
- Mulch for water absorption and retention
- Stabilize topsoil to prevent soil loss through erosion
ADJUST pH & SOIL CHEMISTY
Soil management is an important aspect in all projects for good stewardship to prevent soil degradation, resilience to climate change and links to health and nutrition of all inhabitants of planet earth. Improving Soil Quality and Soil Health is therefore EVERY body’s business.
Talborne Technical & Advisory Services offer a full soil correction and balancing service at minimum costs if you supply us with a soil analysis by a recognized Soil Testing Lab, to ensure that the 3 aspects of a healthy soil are achieved:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Structure
Don’t Guess, Soil Test!
- Understand soil-nutrient availability and save on fertilizer budget by applying correct fertilizer.
- Attain the 4R’s of nutrient stewardship, or nutrient management, thus right source, right rate, right time, and right place
- Increase plant productivity, minimize environmental pollution by applying correct nutrients
- Become better Natural Resource Managers
Contact: Terry info@talborne.co.za for more information
POOR FERTILIZER PRACTISE
Plants need a balanced and adequate supply of all major, minor and micro-nutrients to optimise performance. Pests and disease conditions are mostly caused by poor quality fertilizers that might be cheap, but do not adequately feed the plant, or leach out with watering or rain. Water soluble chemical fertilizers supply nutrients while they pass the root zone, so frequent re-applications of fertilizers are necessary. Low nutrient levels or too fast Nitrogen bait in pests and fungal disease.
TALBORNE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS: We offer a range of VITA solid and NOURISH liquid fertilizer blends formulated from natural inputs for optimal performance.
VITA ORGANIC RANGE: These are high nutrient organic fertilizer blends like Vita Grow 2:3:2(16), Vita Fruit & Flower 3:1:5(18) and Vita Green 5:1:5(16).
NOURISH LIQUID ORGANIC PLANT FOOD: For a quick fix of nourishment, these fertilizers can be used as a foliar spray or for regular feeding program applied through irrigation systems. These plant-based fertilizers from sugar beet and potato extracts, are perfect plant foods as they are not smelly on sites, 3 blends to chose from, sustained release Nitrogen (Amino Acids)for plant energy and resistance to stress. High Nitrogen and Potassium blends promote flowering and healthy leaves.
These versatile ranges are known for:
- Soil improvement: structural, fertility, and stimulates beneficial soil life (microbes)
- Growing a healthy rootzone, for resilient landscapes
- Plants will be resistant to diseases and pest attack
- Water saving
Control Union Organic certification (ISO), Environmental Safety (Climate Change mitigation) and Sustainability standards, for all businesses to comply. After 22 years, the Landscapers, and Corporate Maintenance contractors can be assured these products are tried and trusted to perform under the toughest conditions in all landscapes, they do not burn plants or lawns and are water wise, labour and cost saving as they are applied every 4 to 6 months.
PREVENTING PEST AND DISEASE:
The most likely cause of pest and disease on plants are:
- Incorrect watering, too much or too little. Adjust for season and climate.
- Poor feeding practise – excess, too little or not using the correct fertilizer for the plant’s requirements
- Soil structure and Aeration – sandy soil leaches water and fertilizer and heavy clay soils cause waterlogging.
- pH of soil – low is acidic soils and high is alkaline, both extremes inhibit uptake of nutrients.
- Plant positioning and grouping – plants grouped together correctly sun or shade lovers, or high and low water requirement.
All these factors will cause stress and “dis-ease” in plants and are a signal to unwanted critters and sickness to come and take out the weak plants.
