Which Pruning Tools Are Actually Worth Owning
Four tools cover almost every cut a home garden needs. What each is for, and where bypass beats anvil.
Category
Soil, Tools & Gear
Soil, compost, amendments and the equipment worth owning — what actually makes a difference underground.
10 articles
When to Fertilise, and When Not To
Feeding at the wrong time pushes growth a plant cannot harden or support. The timing that matters, by plant type.
How Deep Should Mulch Be?
Too little does nothing and too much suffocates roots. The working depth, and why mulch should never touch a trunk.
Potting Mix and Garden Soil Are Not Interchangeable
Garden soil in a container compacts and drowns roots. What potting mix is actually made of, and why the difference matters.
Why Your Compost Is Not Breaking Down
A stalled compost heap is short of nitrogen, water, air or bulk. How to work out which, from how the pile looks and smells.
How to Tell If Your Soil Is Compacted
Compaction shows above ground before you dig. The signs, the screwdriver test, and what actually relieves it.
How to Improve Clay Soil
Clay is not a bad soil, it is a slow one. What organic matter actually does to it, and why sand makes things worse.
What the Three Numbers on Fertiliser Mean
The N-P-K figures are percentages by weight. How to read them, compare products honestly, and work out how much to apply.
What Soil pH Does, and When to Bother Changing It
pH does not feed plants — it decides which nutrients they can reach. When it is worth correcting and when it is not.
How to Test Your Soil, and Which Test Is Worth Paying For
Home kits and lab tests measure different things. Which questions each can answer, and how to take a sample that means anything.