Springing up from the soil

An image showing spring flowers

Source: © Neil Withers

Can we fix nitrogen for plants – and the problem of nitrogen pollution?

Spring is well and truly in the air and on the way. Along with almost everyone else in the country with a garden, we’ve become a lot more invested in ours over the past 12 months, minutely observing each tiny change. Writing in mid-March, I can report that our snowdrops have finished flowering, the daffodils are at their peak and the fritillaries are looking promising.

All of this vernal display depends, of course, on light and heat, both of which are currently on the increase in the northern hemisphere. Another key ingredient to gardening success is often forgotten or neglected, in spite of – or maybe because of – it lying beneath our feet.