Peter Dowdall: Why almost every gardening problem starts and ends with soil

When soil is healthy, plants are more resilient to drought, better able to access nutrients, and less vulnerable to pests and diseases

A single teaspoon of healthy soil can contain billions of bacteria, metres of fungal threads and countless microscopic organisms all working together. File picture

For years, gardeners have been taught to focus on feeding plants. We buy fertilisers, some organic, others chemical, sprinkle them around our borders, feed our pots and containers and wait for the results. Sometimes the results are impressive. Plants respond with lush green growth, bigger flowers and stronger performance. Yet despite all of this feeding, many gardeners still find themselves battling the same problems year after year.

Plants struggle in dry weather, growth slows unexpectedly, leaves turn yellow, and flowering disappoints. The temptation is often to reach for more fertiliser, but what if the real answer lies somewhere else entirely?