Hello, and welcome to July!

We've now passed the shortest day of the year and have settled into winter - definitely some chilly nights and beautiful, but crisp days!  We hope you've had a chance to get out and enjoy our lovely winter sunshine and get some of your gardening and outdoor jobs done while the opportunity's there.  With some more rain on the horizon any new plantings will settle in well.  If (like us) you've recently received your free native plants from your local Shire, get them off to a great start by incorporating a little Native Concentrate (soil improver) into and around the planting hole.  We're looking forward to attracting more birds into our garden and creating a bit more habitat for them over the next few years as they mature.  Tubestock is a great way to obtain your native plants - these little plants are inexpensive and will get off to a flying start - often catching up to their larger potted cousins in two years.  It's a great way to stretch your gardening budget too!  Remember to keep them watered over the hottest summer months, and keep up mulch to make sure that they're protected and not swamped by weeds while getting established.

If your garden struggled over summer with taking up and holding water - now is the time to put the work into 'fixing' it so next summer's heat won't be as stressful on your plants. Bring in a small sample of your soil and our team are happy to do a free pH test and give you advice on improving the soil structure.  Adding things like Cassies Clay and Charlie Charcoal are one-off expenses - these minerals are permanent amendments and will improve your soil structure.  We really do have the harshest environment and poor sandy soils to deal with here in Western Australia - but we know we can help you develop your green thumb and enjoy your garden.

Our small vegetable garden is certainly doing well - I hope yours is too??  We've been harvesting something from the garden every day and have been weighing it out of curiosity.  Some of the picking greens don't weigh much - but I'm sure we've saved money on having organic home grown lettuce & spinach every day, as well as other vegies.  As I write, it's not quite the end of the month yet (2 days to go) but the tally is:

Picking greens (lettuce/spinach/kale/mizuna/silverbeet/beetroot tops)  3.23kg
Turnips  1.22kg
Bok Choi  1.15kg
Broccoli  1.9kg
Beetroot  580gms
and from our mushroom kit  764gms
and from a very scraggy cherry tomato in a pot a whole 70gms of tasty black cherry tomatoes! :-D

Considering our garden was planted out at Easter (11th April) we've got many more harvests to come.  The area of the garden bed is a little under 6m2, and we use a couple of Greensmart wicking pots for spinach, as we use so much of it.

It goes to show that a garden doesn't have to be large to be productive.  If you'd like to experience the difference of freshly picked vegies from YOUR garden, come in and see us - we can get you growing!

Until next time,

Linda & The Team @ The Green Life Soil Co

In this newsletter:

Introducing Wicking Bed Mix
Jobs for the July Garden
What to Plant Now
Wicking Beds - what are they anyway?
Indoor Plants - boost your mental health!
VIP Special Offer
Photo Competition Winner
Retailer Update

Introducing...  WICKING BED MIX!

Many customers will be familiar with our Square Foot Gardening Mix - this is a special potting mix developed along the lines of "Mel's Mix" - from the Mel Bartholemew's 'Square Foot Gardening' methodology, adapted slightly for our local conditions.  (If you're not familiar with Square Foot Gardening - see our free downloadable guide here!).  Basically, Square Foot Gardening is an intensive food growing system in a shallow depth garden.  Our Square Foot Gardening Mix (SQFM) has been very successful with people setting up wicking bed gardening kits - like Vegepods, Foodcubes, and Greensmart planters and other self watering pots.  Many customers have also used the mix in home made IBC's or larger wicking bed systems - or, simply have used it as an alternative potting mix.  

With the rise in popularity of wicking beds here in Western Australia, we  have decided to re-badge our Square Foot Mix as a Wicking Bed Mix!  It is the same product - just in new bags to be part of our new packaging range.  From the start of July you'll see the Wicking Bed Mix in our retailers, and once we've used up remaining SQFM bags in our own store, you'll see them roll out at Green Life too!  

So remember - our Wicking Bed Mix is a complete growing medium ideal for pots and smaller planters - and especially in self watering or wicking set ups. Why not give it a try soon!?

Interested in setting up a wicking bed?  See our article a little further down...

Jobs to do in the July Garden (and school holidays)

• Plant your bare rooted fruit (or ornamental) trees. Nurseries have just been delivered their stock so go & have a chat to choose the best for your needs. Buying bare rooted trees is the most economical way to go - so now's the time to go shopping! Plant them into well prepared soil and they'll be off to a flying start once Spring comes along and they emerge from dormancy.  See our fact sheet here. 
• Get ready to spray for peach leaf curl if your nectarines and peaches suffered from this last year. It's a bit early yet - but get hold of your treatments and make it part of your garden routine to check on your susceptible fruit trees regularly. There is a window of opportunity to spray in late winter as the buds are just about to burst with new growth; you don't want to miss it.  Wait for a couple of dry days before spraying.
• Plant rhubarb (pictured above) & asparagus. We're still to receive our stock - but it will be here soon!! Get the ground ready by digging in lots of aged compost/manure (or some of our vegie concentrate) and let it settle. Stay up to date with our Facebook page for the announcement of when stock arrives. Hopefully by the end of the month - contact us and we can let you know when stock arrives.
• Watch for yellowing on your citrus trees. It's very common in Perth and usually is nothing to worry about; it tends to be seasonal in cold weather. Here's a link to our fact sheet on citrus care for further reading. Wait until early spring to give them a proper feed with trace elements (we recommend our Rocky Rock Dust or Growsafe fertiliser) and some good compost or general concentrate.
• Select and prepare for your spring vegies. Order seeds for things you'd like to grow; and if you're really keen - you could perhaps start a few off in trays. It may be a bit early but that's the gardener's gamble. Sowing a few seeds every couple of weeks means that you'll hit the 'sweet spot' sometime when the weather is just right for planting out.  Not sure what to grow?  Check out our free spring/summer vegie guide.
• Lift & divide perennials. Now's a great time to tidy up things like day lilies, agapanthus, etc, and divide plants that are getting a bit big - bonus; free plants for you to use elsewhere in your garden or to give away. Also herbs like chives, mint, etc. will benefit from being rejuvenated and divided.
• Feed your winter vegies. Keep your producing vegies going with weekly or fortnightly weak doses of liquid fertiliser - especially your leafy green crops. If you've got spring flowering bulbs growing - give them a feed too (potash is a good option) to encourage a lovely show of flowers.
• Get growing indoors. Don't let winter stop you from bringing out your green thumb! Grow some indoor plants, experiment with microgreens, or grab yourself a mushroom kit. They're highly productive and easy to use - a great school holiday project for the kids.  We stock locally made kits from The FunGuy @ $30.00 each (pictured right).  These kits are productive and quick to produce - you can almost see the mushrooms growing in front of your eyes!
• Start a worm farm.  A great way to turn your kitchen scraps into 'black gold' - a useful way to build your soil health.  It's something kids get really interested in, so involve them in the process.  Worms make easier pets than many other creatures, too - they don't need to be fed every day.  We've got fact sheets on keeping worms & another on using their castings...  click for links.
• Pruning! Whether grape vines, fruit trees or roses - now's the time to get stuck in. Most plants are very forgiving of hacking back - but if you're concerned about doing it "right"- there's numerous articles & 'how to' videos out there - so do some reading or watching, take up the secateurs and pruning saw and give it a go! The trick is to keep fruiting trees a manageable height to net and pick from; and to open up trees, shrubs and roses to allow good airflow and light. Clean tools between plants to avoid spreading any nasties, and dispose of any infected plant material; but otherwise - mulch and compost it! Need gardening gloves? We've got our favourite fiberglass long gloves in stock - they help protect your forearms from scratches. (gloves pictured right)
• Switch off your retic - in fact the winter sprinkler ban began in June - so hopefully you've already turned off your retic!  (ooops - forgot to mention it last newsletter!) If not - this is your reminder to do so! Hand watering is still OK if you need to give things an extra drink.  Hopefully the rain will continue and you won't need to.

What to plant now

Some things you can plant in your garden NOW are:-

Artichokes (globe & Jerusalem* types), Asparagus, Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery, Celeriac, Coriander, Endive, English Spinach, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Lettuce, Mint, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Rhubarb, Silverbeet, Snow Pea, Spring Onion, Strawberries, Turnip.

If you haven't planted out all your winter crops from seed you're running a bit late! - although succession planting to extend the season with top up crops is still worthwhile to do. (You can still grow carrots, beetroot, peas & many leafy greens from seed.)  If you're wanting to try your luck with broccoli or cauli, my tip is to look for healthy seedlings to plant out. You'll be saving yourself 4-6 weeks minimum, so you'll be picking your crops sooner.  Another tip is to select dwarf or small growing varieties - they tend to mature quicker as they don't have to spend as long growing to their maximum size before flowering.

Check out our FREE downloadable 'When to Plant in Perth' guide here. We've got one for vegies & another for herbs ~ as well as heaps more fact sheets, videos & info on individual vegies, natural pest control, building healthy soil and SO much more!!! If you're stuck inside due to inclement weather - spend some time and explore what we've got for you (click on the 'learn' tab on the navigation bar above).

*We've got heaps of Jerusalem Artichoke tubers available - 100gm/$2 so come on in and grab some.

We're expecting Rhubarb & Asparagus crowns to arrive later this month. The crowns need to be lifted when dormant - and the growers decide the best time to do this; so timing is beyond our control.  Please give us a call to pre-order (or keep an eye on our Facebook page) to confirm stock has arrived.

(Click on the highlighted text for helpful growing guides on these great perennial plants.)

Wicking Beds - a great solution for Perth gardening problems

In our climate, experiencing summers like we recently had; and with our native 'gutless' sand - trying to grow food crops which have a high need for water and nutrients can be frustrating.

It's no surprise that wicking beds were an Aussie invention.  Based on the same concept as a self watering pot, a wicking bed has a water reservoir UNDERNEATH the growing soil which means that plants can access moisture as and when it's required through their roots.  With the right design, soil takes up this moisture through capillary action 'wicking' water upwards where plants access it.  This means that you may not need to water your plants every day; saving you time and effort - and perfect if you're going away and relying on someone to look after your garden.

Overall this allows a more even growing result - with traditional watering methods, soil can completely dry out between waterings leaving plants wilted.  It takes time for their cells to replenish water and recover; this 'boom & bust' cycle makes plants stressed and weaker - so they're more vulnerable to diseases and pest attack.  And far less likely to produce a high yield.

Wicking beds come in ready made kits - as simple as the Greensmart pots we sell, and Waterups mini wicking beds.  There are larger kits in the market too - Vegepods and Foodcubes.  Another Australian company producing wicking bed kits and accessories for them is WaterUps.  (If you're making your own wicking bed from an IBC container, WaterUps now have a special wicking bed system made for IBCs which makes it SUPER easy!  Contact Michael (WA distributor) from Wick and Grow (formerly Little Veggie Patch) who will be happy to help.

They can be a great solution for renters too - you can put a wicking bed anywhere - on grass or paving, and you can take it with you if you have to move.  

Whether you choose to buy a system off the shelf or make one from scratch - wicking beds make great sense in our climate.  You can use recycled materials and be quite creative with your wicking bed design providing you follow the basics of setting up your system.  It's important to make sure the reservoir and soil depths aren't too deep - as the capillary action is reduced with height. Materials you use are important too.  The material in the reservoir can't have very large particle sizes as gaps will also reduce capillary action.  You must have an overflow (so plants can't drown if we have periods of heavy rain) and ideally you have a filling system that's easy to check the water level and something that is capped to stop mosquitos breeding.  And of course, the growing medium you choose is important.

We have a Wicking Bed information sheet with diagrams explaining what you need on our website.  Click here for the link.

Some wicking bed manufacturers will recommend using perlite in your wicking beds.  This comes down to personal choice and may be of benefit to open up soil structure if you're using a 'heavy' mix. With our soils, we don't feel its necessary.  Perlite is an expensive material to use in large quantities.  But as always with gardens - there's more than ONE way to go about things; so by all means use it if you think it will be of benefit.  (Perlite is an inert mineral - naturally occurring as pyrite & heat treated which makes it expand [think of popcorn!].  The resulting lightweight mineral is porous and helps with water retention and holding air in the soil for roots - improving drainage at the same time.  If you have a soil like a budget potting or vegetable mix, over time the organic material can break down and the fines can be a bit 'sludgy'- Perlite comes into its own here as it retains airspace in the soil so roots can breath. GLSC's mixes are made a bit differently, and things like Charlie Charcoal [biochar] in our mixes tend to retain the soil structure. Perlite is popular in hydroponics and used in plant propagation and certainly won't do any harm in a wicking bed!  We do sell perlite if you're interested in using it.)

Green Life Soil Co stocks 7mm bluemetal which we recommend for the reservoir, and (of course) quality soils to get great, long lasting results.  We have our Wicking Bed Mix (formerly Square Foot Mix) and our Vegetable Mix.  Both are Certified Organic and perfect for vegetables.  Which soil to choose can come down to the size of the bed/s you're making, and budget. We have happy customers who have used both!  

So if you're thinking about setting up new garden beds for Spring, consider a wicking bed.  Next summer your garden can thrive (not just survive!) and you can enjoy your garden with less stress.

The Great Indoors!

Our Perth winters are very mild by world standards - but let's face it. We can still be a bit wussy and like to avoid cold and rainy days.  But how do you scratch the gardening itch if you can't go outside?

The answer can be right under our noses...  INDOOR PLANTS!

The past few years have seen a huge trend towards indoor plants.  It's great that younger generations are learning to love plants; and it is well documented that having living green plants around us does wonders for our mental health. Statistics are that urban dwellers spend 80% - 90% of their time indoors - so there has been a separation between people and plants.  (There's a whole other argument about the value of incorporating trees and green spaces into our cities and neighborhoods - I would encourage you to be vocal about this in your local area with your Shire Council and wherever there's the opportunity to have input into new developments!) 

Here's some information about how good plants are for us from a study done in 2015 (link will take you to published info).

The study delved into the 'psychological and physiological benefits of interacting with indoor plants, aiming to uncover their potential as natural stress relievers' (Lee et al., 2015).

"The study conducted a controlled experiment involving 24 young male adults with an average age of 24.9 years. Employing a crossover design, participants were randomly assigned to two groups. One group engaged in a computer task typical of daily work, while the other group performed a plant-related task—specifically, transplanting indoor plants. Each group subsequently switched activities the following day to provide a comprehensive comparison.

Psychological responses were assessed using the semantic differential method (SDM), capturing subjective feelings of comfort, calmness, and naturalness. Physiological evaluations included monitoring heart rate variability (specifically, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components) and blood pressure levels before and after each task.

Analysis of SDM data revealed distinct emotional responses between tasks, with participants reporting significantly higher levels of comfort and naturalness following the transplanting task compared to computer work. Physiologically, engagement with indoor plants led to a notable decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, reflected in decreased LF/(LF+HF) ratios, and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure post-activity."

So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, consider swapping your screen time for some plant time. Your mind, body, and garden will thank you!

Indoor plants are also great at keeping our air clean too!  Here's a list of 10 recommended indoor plants.  A Korean study recommended one plant per 6m2 inside your home for maximum air quality - but it has been shown that even ONE indoor plant makes a difference in removing pollutants.  Choose which suits your home:

1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are famous for many of their attributes: Commonly variegated, they also come in a plain green leaved variety. It's not widely known, but they're actually edible!  So they're safe for your pets which is a great bonus! Spider plants are champions at purifying indoor air by removing toxins such as formaldehyde and xylene. With their long arching leaves and being easy care, they are a popular choice for indoor growing.

2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies are an attractive flowering plant with shiny green leaves. These indoor plants thrive in low light and with minimal watering to keep them healthy. However, be aware that they are poisonous to cats and dogs – so if you have a furry housemate, keep your peace lily far out of their reach. Peace lilies are known for their elegant white blooms and their ability to filter out harmful pollutants like ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde. They are relatively low-maintenance, making them ideal for busy individuals seeking cleaner air.

3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

With their upright foliage and tall frame, snake plants are visually appealing both indoors and outdoors and come with the added bonus that they require very minimum maintenance. Also known as the mother-in-law's tongue, the snake plant is an exceptional air purifier. It releases oxygen at night, making it an ideal plant for bedrooms. It filters out formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and other toxins commonly found in indoor environments. Classified pet friendly - can cause gastrointestinal problems if eaten in large quantities... but a little nibble is considered harmless.

4. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

A low fuss succulent that can be grown outdoors too, Aloe vera not only has healing properties for the skin but also acts as an air purifier, removing formaldehyde and benzene from the air. This sun-loving plant is easy to care for and adds a touch of green to any room.  It thrives with good natural light. Pet safe in small quantities. 

5. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Graceful Boston ferns are excellent natural humidifiers, adding moisture to the air while purifying it. They are effective at removing pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene. These lush, feathery fronds can add a refreshing ambiance to your home. They're considered pet safe too!

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants have large, glossy leaves that effectively filter out formaldehyde from the air. They prefer bright, indirect light and can be a statement piece in any room. They are available with colourful foliage, and are happy to be pot bound.  They'll often grow quite tall - just never, EVER plant them outside - they have invasive roots and can cause lots of damage.  Either pass it to a friend or heavily prune plants that are getting too large for your space. Toxic to pets, and avoid getting the milky sap on your skin.

7. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

The bamboo palm is an elegant addition to any space, adding a tropical touch! It excels at filtering indoor air by removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. It thrives in low light conditions, making it perfect for offices or rooms with minimal natural light. Cut back on watering in winter.  Considered pet friendly.

8. Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)

Dracaena species come in various shapes, colours and sizes, all with excellent air-purifying abilities. They're tolerant of low light conditions and if you forget to water them they're quite forgiving! They will grow faster with more light, and they're quite tolerant of pruning if they get too large. They can effectively filter out toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Considered toxic to pets.

9. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Devil's Ivy - Golden Pothos is a great choice for new gardeners due to its ease of care and air-purifying qualities. It's known for removing pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. Its trailing vines make it perfect for hanging baskets or as a cascading accent on shelves. It's easy to grow from cuttings and will strike readily in water. Toxic to pets.

10. Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

This is a huge genus of plants - with over 480 varieties there's many colours, shapes and sizes to choose from! It seems there's always a new variety coming out - they're popular collector plants. Philodendrons add a touch of tropical elegance to any indoor space. They thrive in moderate to bright indirect light and require well-draining soil to prevent root rot. They are considered toxic to pets.

If you're looking at giving your indoor plants some love - remember Green Life Soil Co makes a fabulous Indoor Potting Mix and an Aroid Mix - they're formulated slightly differently and a little chunkier than our Premium Potting Mix, with added ingredients to help your precious indoor babies thrive.

If you're new to having house plants - remember that more indoor plants are killed through over watering than under watering.  Especially in winter, check the soil moisture levels before watering (we have moisture meters available too!).  The mantra for indoor plants?  "If in doubt - choose drought!"  If you'd like more tips on growing healthy indoor plants, click on this link for our fact sheet.

VIP Special Offer

Seeing as we've just been encouraging you to give your indoor plants some love (and maybe even extend your collection?) this month we're offering our VIP's our Indoor Potting Mix at a special rate.

So this month, our VIP offer is on our 10L Indoor Potting Mix.  [We offer it in 3 sizes - resealable 10L (most popular) and 5L & 2.5L bags - for those who only have one or two small pots to fill and don't want a big bag of potting mix hanging around!]

As a VIP the 10L bag is $15.00 this month (normally $20.50).  That's $5.50 to go towards a new plant baby!!

Offer is available in store or online. If shopping online, you must be logged in as a Member to see the special pricing.

So grab some indoor mix today!  The offer is valid until close of business, Wednesday 31st July 2024.

While you're in store, check out our other indoor plant essentials - dry kelp, chunky charcoal, worm castings, DE, perlite & more!

Photo Competition Winner

Congrats to David H. from Lesmurdie, who sent us in his garden photos recently - showing a little over a month's growth.  He had this to say about his garden:

"We are now picking lettuce, bok choi.  The aquaponics is in the background as well as my orchard and Rowdy the rooster.  In this plot I'm growing lettuce, bok choi, cabbage, carrots, swedes, turnips, climbing beans, garlic, silverbeet, rhubarb, broccoli and thyme. Other plots I've got onions, broad beans and dwarf beans.  I'm getting a great return!"

Thanks for sending in your photos, David.  You've won a $50 store credit to spend with us.

Remember - send in your photos to be in the draw; someone is chosen at random to be our monthly lucky winner - it could be YOU next time!  Email through your photos (subject line 'photo competition') or send them via Messenger.  Tell us a little about your garden (because we all love to know what you're growing!) and enter today.

Retailer Update

Please support your local independent retailer who supports us! The specialist retailers listed here will be happy to give you gardening advice and help you with our products - please call to check what lines they carry as they can't stock all of our products (but may be willing to get stock in for a custom order - if you ask nicely!). Some of these fabulous retailers also offer a home delivery service (marked with *) - so why not go local?  (Please contact the store directly for details.)

Bar Botanik - North Perth 9227 6758 (Indoor Potting Mix & Aroid Mix only)
Daisy Field Organics - Fremantle 0450 793 720
Garden Elegance - Subiaco 9381 2197
Guildford Town Garden Centre* - Guildford 9279 8645
Harbour Plants*- South Fremantle 0439 967 034
Hydroponics Guru (Living Soil only) - Wangara 0430527575
Kambarang Garden Centre* - Bentley 9458 5944
Lighthouse Fruit Tree Nursery - Parkwood 0411 166 034
Miaflora - Inglewood 9343 6334
Newstead Outdoors* - Greenwood 9334 6334
Nibali Stockfeed* - Hamilton Hill 9433 2211
Richo's 4 Hydro - Joondalup 9301 4462
Stanbee Stockfeeds* - Barragup 9581 2390 
Supreme Plants - West Swan 0499 887 275 
Swan Valley Station - Swan Valley 0427 371 001(pictured above)
Tass1 Trees - Middle Swan 0419 988 344
Urban Revolution* - Victoria Park 6102 1068
Utopia Nursery - Bullsbrook 0455 659 622
Waldecks Kingsley* - 9309 5088
Waldecks Melville* - 6317 0939
Waldecks Stirling* - 9254 6730
Zanthorrea Nursery - Maida Vale 9454 6260

All Things Stock (Muchea) 0480 740 638  
Ardess Nursery (Albany) 9842 9952
Australind Landscaping Supplies 9796 1720
Boyup Brook Co-op (Boyup Brook) 9765 1001
Extracts Landscaping Supplies (Toodyay) 0417 202 718
Great Northern Rural Services (Geraldton) 9964 1274
Handy Hands Nursery (Karratha) 9413 1801
Hillview Garden Centre (Bridgetown) 9761 1672
Margaret River - Nutrient Ag Solutions 9758 7677 (Premium Potting Mix & Compost)
Mitre 10 Margaret River 9757 2455 (Square Foot Mix & Veg Concentrate)
Naturaliste Landscape Supplies (Busselton) 9754 8081
Soils Ain't Soils (Busselton & Dunsborough) 97515 322 

THANK YOU for being part of our Green Life family!  We hope to see you in store soon.  Check out our newsletter next month & stay up to date with our Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements, stock arrivals and general good gardening vibes!