Caring for our soil, with Juliet Sargeant

In this episode of the Gardeners World Magazine Podcast, host Oliver Parsons speaks with award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant about her new book, "Start With Soil." The conversation delves into the vital importance of soil, exploring its role as the foundation of all land-based life and its direct impact on food sources. Juliet highlights her realization about soil's significance during a visit to her family's farm in Tanzania, where she witnessed the dire condition of soil affecting crop yield. She emphasizes the need for gardeners to shift focus from simply feeding plants to nurturing the soil itself, fostering its ecosystem for healthier plant growth.

Juliet explains the complexity of soil ecosystems and the various organisms that interact to support plant health. She notably discusses how soil bacteria and fungi play critical roles in nutrient uptake for plants, advocating for a more respectful and sustainable gardening approach. The conversation also touches on the challenges posed by different soil types in the UK, including clay and chalky soils, and the importance of adapting gardening strategies accordingly.

Towards the end, Juliet encourages gardeners to embrace local soil conditions and work with nature instead of against it, as climate change prompts a reevaluation of traditional gardening practices. The episode concludes with Juliet reflecting on the importance of soil health and how a deeper understanding of it can lead to more sustainable gardening methods.