In Start with Soil, garden designer Juliet Sargeant challenges the reader to take soil seriously, reveals its hidden wonders, and provides the tools to improve soil health and harness its power. While many gardeners all appreciate the soil beneath their feet, many are still perplexed by how it works.
By means of step-by-step projects, plant profiles and trouble-shooting pages, Sargeant shows that this method of gardening is kind to the planet and will also ensure a flourishing garden.
Start with Soil explains the science of soil – without the jargon, how it works and how climate change is impacting its health. Sargeant takes readers through at-home soil testing, providing explanations about how soil changes throughout the year, and quick-guides to the types of growing mediums; from composts to house plants, hydroponics to sand gardens. Advice for gardening for better soil is demonstrated with tried-and-tested methods for making simple compost, feeding soil, protecting soil, with introductions to the concepts of No Dig gardening, Hugelkultur and rain gardens.
Juliet Sargeant is a garden designer and regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. Sargeant has a BA (Hons) in Garden Design and is a Registered Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. In 2016 she won a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and her ‘New Blue Peter Garden: Discover Soil’ for the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show is now on permanent display at RHS Garden Bridgewater. In 2024, she designed the ‘Lion King’ garden which won Best Show Garden, the RHS Environmental Innovation Award and a Silver Gilt Medal.
Start with Soil: Simple steps for a thriving garden (Frances Lincoln) will be released on the 1st of May, 2025.