BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast Caring for our soil, with Juliet Sargeant
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Oct 8, 2025 Join award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant, author of *Start With Soil*, as she uncovers the secrets beneath our feet. Discover why healthy soil is crucial for life and learn about the fascinating biodiversity that exists within it. Juliet shares insights from her eye-opening trip to Tanzania, tackles the complexities of soil microbes, and provides practical tips on assessing your soil. With a focus on sustainable gardening practices, she emphasizes the importance of loving and understanding local soil to create thriving gardens.
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Fungal Networks Extend Roots
- Fungal hyphae form vast networks that extend root surface area and transfer nutrients to plants.
- Plants exchange sugars with fungi in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Feed The Soil First
- Feed the soil rather than directly feeding the plants to support the living ecosystem below.
- Prioritise soil health so microbes and fungi can sustain plant nutrition naturally.
Chalk Gardener With Soil Envy
- Juliet admits to 'soil envy' when visiting well-stocked gardens like RHS sites while gardening on thin chalk soils.
- She gardens on shallow chalk topsoil on the South Downs and feels the limitation daily.
