Reap the rewards of the beautiful outdoors with a simple gardening solution
We all love a beautiful garden. Being in nature helps us relax and unwind, while the action of gardening improves physical health and mental wellbeing. A garden is the perfect space for families to play, not to mention the family pet. You can grow your own vegetables for healthy meals and plant lovely flowers to cut and enjoy in vases indoors. Plus, a private garden is the ideal spot for yoga or meditation. In short, a garden gives back tenfold. The only problem for some of us is keeping it alive. This is where Earthlife steps in.
An Australian-owned company based in Toowoomba in Queensland, Earthlife manufactures a range of microbial mineral-based soil conditioners and fertilisers for gardening, horticulture and agriculture. A business founded on passion for the land and soil, Earthlife is dedicated to bringing simple solutions to market that improve soil quality and help your garden grow. With evidence-based product development, their products will significantly improve water retention and mineral balance in soils for fuss-free garden maintenance, or those that need some tender loving care.
Because Australian soils have a tendency to be depleted of natural minerals and plants need up to 60 different elements to be healthy, adding back nutrients is vital. The other part of the story is that the soil biology — the bacteria, fungi and associated organisms that work symbiotically with plants — are also being lost, yet many gardening products forget this important aspect of soil health.
Earthlife’s extensive research and development program found that, in order to restore the balance, the best and simple gardening solution is to increase the mineral and microbial balance in affected soils, which improves soil structure and water retention, while the best natural plant food and soil conditioner is humates (organic plant matter). The company was able to successfully blend the required minerals, biology and humates into a comprehensive range of products that are so easy to use, you’ll forget you’re gardening.
For the home gardener, there is one product in particular that you’ll want to keep on-hand. Garden Mate is a fast-acting clay breaker with no need to dig it in — just add water. It rapidly breaks the hydrophobic crust, allowing water penetration while also improving the water-holding capacity of the soil. The high levels of silica in the product make it extremely effective at opening up all types of compacted soils, without risk of harm to your plants if you use too much.
Safe for people, pets and your garden, Garden Mate is a 100 per cent natural garden soil and plant conditioner containing over 60 mineral elements including rare earths and plant-available silica, natural rock phosphate, and over 30 beneficial microbe and fungi species. Suitable for organic gardeners, this is a safe and all-natural alternative to gypsum, lime and dolomite, with a lot more bang for your buck.
Improvements can be seen in just two to three weeks after proper application, and for best results it is recommended that the initial application be repeated after four to six weeks, with a lighter application three to four months later. What you will end up with is a softer soil with improved drainage, aeration and nutrient content in a very short period of time. By increasing the mineral content of the soil, it means plants become more robust and better able to withstand future adverse weather events.
Its sister product, Vegie Mate, promotes healthier vegetables and herbs that are more able to withstand adverse conditions, and to resist pests and diseases as well as improve post-harvest shelf life. Suitable for new and existing vegetable gardens, it encourages earthworm activity and discourages nematodes. Like Garden Mate, it is suitable for organic gardens and can be spread over the soil, including existing vegetables, and simply watered into the ground. The product is recommended for use every six to eight weeks for leaf vegetables, or three to four weeks for fruiting vegetables. Earthlife also stocks excellent products dedicated to flowers, fruit trees and lawn.
Visit the Earthlife website to find out more about their incredible products and order some for your garden. Delivery is Australia-wide.
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