Brian Minter: This time of year your garden soil needs some help. Here's how

In many cases our soils are tired, deprived of moisture and the microbes necessary to keep them thriving are missing. This is where regenerative soil management can play such an important role in renewing our garden soils resulting in more resilient lawns and plants. Minter Country Gardens

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Our spring-into-summer drought and significantly warmer temperatures have been hard on so many trees, shrubs and other garden plants. Lawns also look pretty rough now and things won’t improve for a while with little rain on the horizon and water restrictions still in place.

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In many cases our soils are tired, deprived of moisture and the microbes necessary to keep them thriving are missing. This is where regenerative soil management can play such an important role in renewing our garden soils resulting in more resilient lawns and plants.

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Replenish Nutrients 1, with a formulation of 0-0.5 (available phosphorus)-20 (potassium)-20 (sulphur), is a soil probiotic that helps break down organic matter, improves nutrient availability and helps restore biodiversity.

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There is a new Canadian product on the market now: a regenerative, organic blend that is making a remarkable difference in the revitalization in our gardens. Called Replenish Nutrients 1, it brings the principles of regenerative agriculture to our farms and gardens. It’s an all-natural, non-water-soluble rock phosphate that remains in the soil instead of leaching into the waterways. The primary concept is to help soil micro-organisms naturally cycle these nutrients thereby making the phosphates available to plants. The goal is to restore soil health while supplying nutrients to plants.

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This amazing new product is the result of seven years of research, development and collaboration by Neil Wiens and Kevin Erickson. Wiens has an extensive background and experience in transforming organic waste material into valuable agricultural products and brings the principles of regenerative agriculture into both the farming and home gardening communities. Erickson has 30 years of experience in the fertilizer industry, including research and product development in organic and regenerative practices.

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Traditional synthetic fertilizers feed plants while making the soil more acidic, increasing the soil salinity, and in many cases, causing microbes to disappear. Biofertilizers instead feed the soil, help restore organic matter, aid the soil in retaining more moisture and, overall, encourage a thriving ecosystem.

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Replenish Nutrients 1, with a formulation of 0-0.5 (available phosphorus)-20 (potassium)-20 (sulphur), is a soil probiotic that helps break down organic matter, improves nutrient availability and helps restore biodiversity. Rock phosphate has been scientifically proven to benefit root development, and it also aids in flowering and fruit production. Muriate of potash regulates water movement, strengthens cell walls and dramatically improves drought resistance. The organic compost base adds carbon and helps fuel an improved microbial ecosystem.

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The regenerative difference between Replenish Nutrients 1 and synthetic fertilizers is the nutrient aiding in nitrogen fixation and phosphorous stabilization. Additionally, microorganisms colonize the soil and restore the nutrient cycle. They also restore organic matter throughout the soil.