Decomposers - soil-producing insects in open fields and flower beds

Fertilizer

We know that soil and microorganisms break down organic material into fine soil. But what insects can do for the soil - and who they really are - is not talked about as much. They do a huge benefit and it's high time to give them some attention.

Written by: Liselotte Roll

Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Soil", "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".

Reuse the soil in plant boxes and pots

Plants need good, nutrient-rich soil to grow properly, but used soil in plant boxes and pots doesn't need to be thrown away; it can easily be made good as new. Here are the tips you need to save both time and money.

Soil and fertilizer

Soil and fertilizer when you are going to sow and cultivate

When sowing seeds and growing plants, there are a few things you should consider to get healthy, strong, and vibrant plants. The right soil at the right time is one of the most important.

Soil and fertilizer

Soil and fertilizer for outdoor plants

Good soil and fertilizer are important for healthy, fresh and beautiful plants throughout the season – regardless of whether you plant directly in the garden or in outdoor pots, planters, and boxes.

Soil and fertilizer

Bokashi – create natural fertilizer from food scraps

Bokashi is a Japanese method that turns food waste into nutrient-rich soil. Make your own bokashi compost with a bucket, food scraps, and compost bran. After a few weeks, you'll have nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

Soil and fertilizer

Cultivate climate smart - make your own fertilizer water

Fertilizer water can be a pure miracle cure for tired vegetables and flowers, as it provides a quick replenishment of important nutrients. In this article, we tell you more about some of the most common types, and how you can easily make fertilizer water yourself.

Fertilizer

Earthworms - the helpful gardeners

That earthworms are important for the soil is well known to everyone, but exactly what they do may be a little more unknown. Here we delve deep into the world of the winding fields.

Fertilizer

If it weren't for nature's decomposers such as microorganisms, fungi, algae, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, snails, and insects, organic material like old leaves, feces, dead trees, and debris would never be broken down and turned into new soil - the cycle would completely halt. Life in the soil forms the basis for all life above ground, and the decomposing insects are a part of it. Some ants, beetles, wasps, springtails, and even flies are incredibly significant when it comes to converting organic material into new soil. They chew, shred, and organize the organic material so that fungi and microorganisms have more surfaces to attack - and together they release new nutrients.

What do decomposers like?

Insects that break down organic material, depending on the species, are interested in different types of organic material such as wood or leaves. For some insects, the stage of decay of the material is also important. For example, when it comes to beetles that live in trees, there are some species that only attack a specific type of wood in a particular state of decay. In other words, it must be reasonably decayed. As a tree dies and decomposes, different insects will thrive at different times. Additionally, many insects that break down material also rely on the wood being attacked by a specific type of fungus or a combination of several. To make it even more complicated, there are insects that only feed on decomposed material during a specific stage of their life, such as when they are larvae, and then transition to eating something completely different like nectar, pollen, or perhaps smaller insects. In short – there are many decomposing insects, and they like different things.

Threatened insects

Similar to several insects in the world, many of the decomposing insects are threatened. Destroyed habitats, monocultures, plant toxins, and climate change are some of the causes. But there are things you can do in your own garden to benefit the populations. Many insects do not move far in their lifetime, so what you do in the garden matters.

Take advantage of insects and decomposers

Organic farming and diversity are important for all insects. When it comes to decomposing species, it is wise to focus on open composts and piles of rice and twigs. Allowing leaves and other plant waste to stay in flower beds or covering crops with them is also beneficial to them. And ignore the leaf blower, it makes it difficult for the small insects.

This is how you can get more decomposing insects in your garden

Make open composts
Save piles of leaves and branches
Save dead trees
Clean and shred less among fallen leaves and plants
Cover crops
Cultivate diversity, meaning grow many different varieties of plants and flowers with different shapes and colors, preferably older untreated varieties.
Do not disturb the habitat.
Avoid digging, plowing, and using leaf blowers as much as you can.

Tips: If you cultivate in a so-called hugelkultur, a kind of cultivation where the core of the bed consists of old branches and wood, you feed the tree-dwelling insects at the same time as you get a crop where the core breaks down slowly. This releases nutrients over a longer period of time to the plants.

WRITTEN BY

Liselotte Roll, Swedish garden inspirator, journalist and author of books about nature, gardening and animals, such as "Earth", "Cultivating for Insects" and "Chickens as a Hobby". (Photo: Sandra Birgersdotter Ek)

Topics:

Fertilizer