Suitable plant combinations

Ground cover

Low-growing species that protect soil and help it to recover.

• Provide phosphorus / nitrogen to depleted soils.
• Reduce weeds, capture moisture, slow evaporation, slow erosion.
• Bulk up soil matter.
• Cycle nutrients.
• Assist in rhysodisposition (sugar release).
• Deep roots to harvest minerals are preferable.
• Pest-deterrent types are preferable.
• Self-seeding varieties are preferable.
• After the harvest, they provide mulch (Gründünger) and can be composted.

Examples: clover, cress, rye, hairy vetch, buckwheat.

Phytoremediation plants

Selected species that help soil recover from abuse.

Geraniums

• Clean the soil of pollution (poisons, oils, heavy metals).
• Geraniums are special, in that they can absorb large quantities of various poisons. Toxins or metals can be extracted by the plants, that are then burned and the ashes melted.
• Geraniums may have roots in excess of 1 metre, which is deeper than most pollution penetrates.

Mustard (Senf)

• Possesses soil-cleaning properties.
• Plant from April to October.
• Very uncomplicated plant.
• Grows in almost every soil or area.
• Doesn’t need direct sunlight all day.

Sunflowers

• It’s best to sow sunflower seeds directly into the soil after the danger of spring frost is past (ideally, soil temperature has reached 15 °C), from mid-April to late May.
• Give plants plenty of room, especially for low-growing varieties that will branch out. Make rows about 70 cm apart (very small varieties may be planted closer together).
• Plant the seeds no more than 2 cm deep, about 15 cm apart; you can plant multiple seeds and thin them to the strongest contenders when the plants are 15 to 20 cm tall.
• A light application of compost mixed in at planting time will encourage strong root growth to protect them from blowing over in the wind.
• Experiment with plantings staggered over 5 to 6 weeks, to keep enjoying continuous blooms.
• If birds scratch around for the seeds, spread netting over the planted area until germination.