
Did you know, soil is the largest store of carbon on the planet? Soil stores more carbon than vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This makes it crucial in an environmentally considerate approach to our grounds maintenance work. The soil's carbon storage remains active all year round, meaning we must actively work to protect it from degradation caused by poor conditions or harsh weather.
The soil is teaming with organic life, big and small. Extensive root systems, fungal networks, animals, insects, weeds, microorganisms, an enormous amount of life under our feet. The insects and microorganisms play a key role by breaking down organic matter and releasing it’s nutrition into the soil. Healthy soil equals healthy plants.
These outcomes also have a practical benefit from our clients point of view. Healthier soil means better looking plants, healthier plants and trees, and less call for fertilisation. This saves costs in planting new trees, shrubs and flowers, removing old trees, shrubs and flowers, and reduces the work clients are required to pay for in regards to upkeep.
Healthy soil is also better at retaining its own structure and the structure of the plants that live in it. In Kent and the rest of the South East (and probably the rest of the country) we are prone to heavy rainfall in the winter months which can strip top soil along with its nutrients, making the ground more prone to flooding and less fertile.
How To Prioritise Soil Health In Winter
Our grounds maintenance teams take steps to protect and enhance the soil, and you can too. These practices enhance bioavailability and increase the overall health of your landscape, at any time of year.
Organic Matter
Additional organic matter is the first step towards healthy soil. Winter is the perfect time to add mulch, compost, or very broken down manure to your soil. This encourages and protects the soil from harm and makes new nutrients available, feeds the organisms in the soil, improves stability, and enhances water retention. You can also add good mulch to soil beds and around the bases of trees to protect them from damage caused by weather fluctuations or ask your sustainable landscaping providers to do so.
Cover Over Bare Soil
Exposed soil is vulnerable to wind and rain erosion and as it erodes will take a lot of crucial nutrition with it. When covering isn’t possible, the ideal solution is winter cover crops. We use winter rye or clover to shield the soil while also increasing soil nitrogen content and improving fertility, which makes it an ideal choice for green choices.
Avoid Compaction
Heavy machinery or foot traffic can lead to compaction of the soil, which damages the structure of the soil, reducing its capacity for retaining water and compromising its structure. Consider altering your grounds maintenance plans to avoid using heavy machinery (like large mowers) and altering your paths to avoid key areas whilst the soil is wet.
Avoid Waterlogging
Waterlogging, which is when soil does not have adequate drainage and the water pools on the surface, drowns the microorganisms that live within the soil, drastically slowing down the decomposition process and halting the ability of the soil to stay healthy and well fed. Consider adding drainage swales or permeable membranes to aid drainage.
Monitor Soil Health
We believe that what we measure will be improved. We maintain rigorous soil monitoring schedules in order to be equipped with the information we need to best tend to the plants and trees under our care. Initiating a soil monitoring system allows you to check that your processes are working and also informs your schedule moving forwards into the growing season.
Soil Health Is At The Heart Of Sustainable Grounds Maintenance
At our company, we believe that as stewards of the land, prioritising the long game of environmental care is our most crucial role. We don’t think in terms of days, weeks, or even months, we think in terms of years and decades. Some of the trees under our care have been living for hundreds of years, and our intention is that they live for hundreds more. Some of the established gardens in stately homes that we so admire and care for were planted before our great grandparents were born. At the heart of longevity for the environment is soil care. Regenerative practises for farm land are gaining louder voices and more support all the time, and any old allotment owner knows the importance of ensuring the vitality of your soil. We hope that we can teach and encourage other grounds maintenance companies to follow our lead, and put the health of the soil first, for healthy, beautiful landscapes for years to come.
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