LANDSCAPE PLANTING AND PLANTER BOX SUCCESS

A sad reality of these times is that the most beautiful architectural projects are left to look forlorn with failures in their landscaping projects. So frequently dead and unhealthy plants are found, often just after 3-4 years.

In many cases this is a result of incorrect design of the “soils” used at the time of initial construction.

Paved with great intentions, the landscape project is often hampered by budgeting constraints and the “soils” or materials finally used are selected on price over suitability for purpose.

WHY

It is important to realise that a soil is naturally formed over hundreds of years, not made with a front-end loader. Soils are a result of weathering of rock and there are many classifications of soil types often relating back to the parent materials from which they were formed.

Most soils on the planet would have a matrix of 75-85% mineral fraction (peat or marsh soils being an exception). Some 5-10% would be of decaying or decayed organic matter eventually creating the humus fraction of the soil matrix & balance of air spaces.

WHAT IS SOLD AS SOIL, USUALLY CONTAINS NO GENUINE SOIL

Typically sold as “soil”, is a blend of other materials tailored to the have the texture & appearance of soil. These other materials are usually blends of recycled sands and gravels (mineral) & composted recycled green wastes of kerbside or other origin (organic).

It is either:

1. The ratios of these components that is often out of balance
2. The biochemistry of the green waste making it unsuitable for purpose.

Over the past 10 years GGS (primarily known for quality potting mix and growing substrates) are increasingly approached to provide products for civil projects with “long term stability “factored in their “soil” substrate requirements.

One such products is the planter box mix, an engineered soil mix alternative. This growing medium was designed principally to provide a long term and lightweight growing media. It is suitable for both overhead or subsurface irrigation systems and it will behave more like a soil than a potting mix.

The main features of the engineered soil are:

• Strong capillary lift and lateral spread of water
• Fine texture to increase the matric potential.
• Easy ability to rewet
• Contains zeolite to minimise leaching of nutrients
• High plant available water content
• High content of biologically stable mineral and organic materials
• Compost fraction derived from virgin renewable bark substrates or plantation products
• Resistant to diminishing air porosity and minimal shrinkage over time

Plant available nutrients will comply with the requirements of the Australian Standard (AS 3743-2003) for a premium grade potting mix. The key physical properties are:

BEST REMEMBERED

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.:

- Benjamin Franklin

For more information, visit Grange Growing Solutions