Connection and collaboration with the natural world and others around us is absolutely key for the future. We are living through such stressful times and many people are struggling, so the more we can reach out locally, the better we will feel and the stronger we will be. The best compost will provide all the nutrients and support needed for seeds and veg to grow and thrive, while the worst will leave you with meagre crops and feeble plants. Many existing varieties of crop may struggle in the future with climate change so see what others are growing well in your area. Reach out to local gardening groups, share ideas and swap seeds.

This is why mulch is often said to help with both wet and dry soils, it improves the drainage whilst simultaneously creating a better ability to hold onto water. Tub and basket composts are formulated to give the right conditions for pots of summer bedding to grow well. Reach out with little acts of kindness where you can; a warm hello, a compliment to someone who is looking sad… it offers hope for a more resilient future for us all, together.

Happy climate change savvy growing Kim x .................................................................................. Kim’s climate change savvy gardening tips for August But the only way to know if a compost is good or bad is to grow plants in it and compare them - something we've been doing for more than 30 years.

RHS Sustainable Garden Product of the Year 2021- Our Wool Compost with Comfrey range was one of 10 products shortlisted by a panel of experts for the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year 2021 which highlights the importance of sustainability in horticulture. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do when making our range of peat-free composts and with our peatland restoration work. Our sustainability credentials have been recognised in the following awards:

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You can mulch veg beds with fallen leaves, but do bear in mind that in our climate they can take up to two years to break down and during this time attracts slugs, so best to avoid it on beds where you’re planning to grow slug susceptible plants. Here I am meaning deeper mulches of several centimetres, a sprinkling of fallen leaves is lovely for the soil and should mostly break down over winter. Although temperatures may be sliding, it’s still not too late to get your spring bulbs into pots, containers or straight into the ground. Just remember, to plant them three times their height and try using Dalefoot’s Bulb Compost. Due to its natural free draining properties, it’ll prevent bulbs from rotting if left in heavy soil. Create a calm space to stop, switch off from the stressful world, watch some wildlife, breathe and let the free thinking flow on in. Try and ditch the power tools and gloves. Get properly connected with your garden by hand as much as you can. It helps you see so much more and understand how everything is interconnected.

A mulch around the outside of water hungry plants can keep moisture in for longer. A thin sprinkling of compost, comfrey, grass clippings, woodchip, sheep wool or leafmould works well Quality isn't guaranteed - our compost trials reveal which composts are consistently good and which can be variable. Choose a Best Buy to be sure you're buying a reliable compost. Peat is a rich, dark type of soil that is made mostly of plant matter that has been decomposed under waterlogged conditions. It is incredibly rich in carbon but very low in nutrients. It has excellent water-retentive properties and a nice crumbly texture making it an apparently desirable commodity for gardeners. For overgrown rhubarb, now’s the time to lift, divide and replant. Use a sharp spade to divide the crown into several sections, each piece should have at least one healthy growing bud. Remove fading foliage and replant at the same depth as before. Mulch around the crown with Wool Compost for Vegetables & Salads, ensuring you don’t cover over the planted sections.

The problem for peat is that it comes out of the ground very easily and requires very little in the way of processing. It is clean and rich in organic matter, making it very easy to bag up and sell. Some large horticultural companies own vast swathes of peat bogs, which they drain and extract, simply scraping it out of the ground with diggers. Peat sales to gardeners in England and Wales are due to be banned by 2024. High-profile gardeners such as Monty Don have spoken out against the use of Peat in horticulture and initiatives like the Peat Free April movement have gained staggering momentum. For many years we have been told about peat’s importance in the horticultural industry, but only now are we beginning to shout about its importance in the natural world. Many people know that extracting peat isn’t good for the environment, but not as many know why. In simple terms, mulching helps to provide a light barrier to seeds, which can suppress some weeds. A deeper mulch will do a more thorough job where this is concerned. Of course, nothing will stop some weeds, but mulching will help. Fallen leaves can be a point of contention in the winter: to clear or not to clear? Leaves provide an incredible habitat for sure, but it is worth bearing in mind that wet leaves on lawns and paths are very slippery. It is all about finding a balance. So I rake up leaves where we walk and pile them in the wild areas and under shrubs and bushes. Here the leaves will gradually break down, feeding the plants and soil life, and creating a rich environment for wild life to forage and live in. If you’re planning new hedging this winter, add wildlife food plants to the mix: holly, hawthorn, dog rose and crab apples are all excellent sources of food and shelter.