Learn about gross gardens
Gardens might look peaceful and pretty on the outside… but lurking underneath the surface is a world full of weird and wonderful creatures, smells, slimes, and gooey goodness that all help the garden grow.
From creepy crawlies and wiggly worms to rotting food and stinky plants, gardens are bursting with unexpected surprises. Beneath the soil and among the leaves, tiny ecosystems are hard at work, recycling waste, feeding plants, and keeping everything in balance. It’s a messy process that might seem a little gross at first, but it’s essential for nature to thrive.
What makes a garden gross (but great)?
Gardens are full of gross surprises! Let’s explore what makes gardens a little
bit yucky – in the best way!
- Compost: Squishy, squelchy, and sometimes smelly, but essential for healthy soil that helps plants grow big and strong.
- Worms: Slimy and squirmy but brilliant at munching through old food and mixing up the soil to keep it loose and healthy for plant roots.
- Minibeasts: Tiny creatures like woodlice, beetles, and centipedes help to break down dead plants and turn them into nutrients for the garden.
- Rotting plants and mould: Old leaves and rotting veg might look gross when they go mushy or grow fuzzy mould, but they’re decomposing to return nutrients to the soil.
- Animal poo: Droppings from animals like worms, birds, and hedgehogs can help to fertilise soil and give plants a boost.
- Stinky plants: Some plants have strong smells to protect themselves or attract pollinators.
- Fungi: Mushrooms pop up in damp, shady places and help break down dead leaves and wood.
A closer look at composting
Compost is what we get when natural things like fruit peels, veggie scraps, and grass clippings break down and turn into rich, crumbly soil. It might look and smell a bit gross, but compost is like delicious food for your garden. Want to make your own? Here are some top tips:
No nasties
Avoid putting in cooked food, meat, dairy, or anything plastic. Stick to natural, plantbased waste.
Chop it small
Breaking food or garden bits into smaller pieces helps them rot quicker and gives the bugs a head start!
Add a balance of greens and browns
Too many food scraps in your compost heap? Add some cardboard or dry leaves (browns). Too dry? Add a handful of fresh grass or veggie peelings (greens).
Mix it up
Give your compost a stir every now and then to let air in and help everything break down faster.
Keep it cosy
Compost works best when it’s slightly damp. Not too soggy, not too dry. A bin with a lid or cover helps keep the temperature just right
Stinky plants
These pongy plants smell awful and that’s exactly how they like it!
Skunk cabbage
This plant smells like rotten meat to attract flies and beetles. It even produces heat to help spread its scent
even further!
Corpse flower
Also known as the Voodoo Lily, this is one of the smelliest plants on Earth. Its giant flower only blooms every few
years, but when it does, you’ll know about it!
Garlic and onions
The scent of these kitchen favourites packs a punch. The smell comes from special chemicals in their bulbs which is great for keeping garden pests away.