The Gisborne District Council’s Rose Garden, a beloved community space, has been facing persistent challenges from years of heavy rainfall and waterlogging. These conditions have weakened plant health and encouraged disease, while traditional agrichemical methods have failed to resolve the issues. Partnering with Radice Soil Solutions, the Council embarked on a comprehensive investigation to uncover the root causes and address them effectively.

A Holistic Approach to Understanding Soil Health

To gain a complete picture of the garden’s soil ecosystem, we combined several methods:

Nutrient Testing: This helped identify the levels of key nutrients in the soil and pinpoint potential excesses or deficiencies affecting plant growth.

Plant Sap Analysis: By examining what nutrients were absorbed by the plants, we could understand the challenges they were experiencing, such as toxicity or nutrient imbalances.

Microbial Analysis: Using microscopy, we assessed the balance of beneficial microorganisms, focusing on fungi and predators vital for nutrient cycling and soil structure.

Visual Soil Assessments: Observations of waterlogging, compaction, and root depth provided essential context for the analytical data.

By combining these methods, we could understand the dynamics of nutrients in the soil and their journey into the plants. Coupled with the biological assessment, this gave us a full picture of what is in the soil, what the plants are receiving, and the role soil biology plays in supporting plant health.

Key Findings

Our investigation revealed several critical issues:

Excessive levels of certain nutrients, like potassium and phosphorus, and low pH created stress conditions for the roses.

Severely depleted fungal populations and a lack of microbial predators disrupted nutrient cycling and soil structure.

Poor drainage and compaction limited oxygen availability and root development, further exacerbating plant stress.

A Stronger Foundation for the Future

This work highlights the value of a comprehensive soil health assessment in addressing complex challenges. By looking at the interactions between nutrients, plants, and soil biology, we’ve provided the foundation for restoring the Rose Garden’s vitality and ensuring its sustainability for years to come.