GARDENING
6. SEAWEED Seaweed contains all the main elements to boost soil including nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, magnesium, iodine and calcium. If you live in a coastal area, storms will wash up mounds of brown, red and green seaweed. Collect a variety if you can as they have different nutrient levels. You can chop up it up and use it sparingly. Put it directly on to beds but don't place it in planting holes or directly on to plants as it is salty. However, the autumn rains should wash the excess salt away. 7. WOOD ASH Don't use ash from a barbecue if you are using charcoal, but wood ash from hard woods is fine to add to compost. It tends to be a bit more acidic and is good for plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
8. SHEEP'S FLEECE Lay sheep's wool down around perennial plants and add it to the compost bin. It contains nitrogen and, as an added bonus, also deters slugs. If you are clearing ground in the autumn, lay down cardboard over the top of the ground you've dug, followed by a layer of sheep's wool, and finish it with compost or well-rotted manure. Sheep's wool will biodegrade over time and will retain moisture.
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