Gardeners World episode 9 2002: With compost awareness week on the way, Alan Titchmarsh and Chris Bradshaw are back in the garden with more tips.
Gardening show packed with good ideas, tips, advice from experts and timely reminders to get the most out of your garden, whatever its size or type.
Gardeners World episode 9 2002
Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed in a process called composting. This process recycles various organic materials otherwise regarded as waste products and produces a soil conditioner (the compost).
Compost is rich in nutrients. It is used, for example, in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture and organic farming. The compost itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil. In ecosystems, compost is useful for erosion control, land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover (see compost uses).
How to grow dahlias
Dahlias put on a show in summer and autumn. They come in a wide range of colours from pastels to brights. Very floriferous, they’re also good for cutting. You can buy dahlia plants in summer that are potted up and in full growth. Alternatively, buy dormant tubers in bags in the garden centre in spring or pre-order dormant tubers and rooted cuttings from specialist nurseries for spring delivery.
To grow on tubers and cuttings, you’ll need a frost-free place like a greenhouse with heating or at least insulating fleece, depending on where you live in the country and how cold it is in spring. Bedding dahlias are often seed-raised and will flower that same season. They usually come in a mix of colours or a single colour strain that’s not as uniform as plants-raised from cuttings.
Plant dahlias on free-draining, lighter soils, where they are more likely to survive the winter. While they will grow on heavy soils, you are more likely to need to lift the tender tubers at the end of autumn as they would otherwise suffer when heavy ground gets colder and soggier in winter. All dahlias like a sunny site, ideally with space between them and their neighbours.
