What’s the key to a garden full of healthy plants? The secret is in the soil. Gardening often involves dealing with poor soil and improving the soil structure. Adding soil amendments before you plant will save a lot of time and hassle in the long run. Healthy plants require the right growing conditions and healthy, fertile soil. Without a good quality soil, your careful efforts at sowing, weeding and tending to your yard or allotment will all be in vain. A difficulty with soils being underneath us is that we cannot really see when things are going wrong. The following section will point out the importance of soil and give tips for how you should look after your soil to maximize its potential.

SOIL AND ITS FUNCTIONSSoil is one of the three major natural resources, along with air and water. It consists of diverse inorganic and organic materials. The inorganic materials are the non-living aspects of the soil, such as minerals and rocks, while the organic materials are the living aspects of the soil, such as the soil micro-organisms. The proportion of each of these is important because it determines different types of soil.

Soil isn’t just “dirt” that is used for growing plants in your backyard or producing crops on the farm. Soil provides such critical services in the ecosystem that without it there would be no life. First of all, soil is the basis for plant growth; it contributes to the maintenance of both the natural and planted landscape. Soil is the basis of our nation’s agroecosystems, which provide us with feed, fiber, food, and fuel. The water we drink and use every day has been filtered and purified by soil. Soil also provides habitats for billions of organisms, contributing to biodiversity. What’s more, soil serves as the foundation for construction and provides base materials for buildings, roads, and other building infrastructure.

SOIL TYPESInvesting in your soil is the key to successful gardening. Before you decide what to plant in your yard, it’s best to determine the types and quality of your garden soil. Getting to know your soil will help you understand what types of plants can grow and thrive in it, how easy it is to dig, and how well it retains water and nutrients. First, you need to understand your soil’s texture so that you know the possible restrictions on your land. Next,

you can establish the pH of your soil and know whether you would like to adjust the acidity or alkalinity.

Soil Texture: As the previous section mentioned, soil particle size and the amount of organic matter and available water determine soil types. The smallest soil particles will form clay, those a little larger create silt, and even bigger particles form sandy soil. In addition to the size of the particles, you may also want to know the arrangement of particles in the soil because that determines how well the soil retains water and nutrients.

Clay soils are comprised of tiny particles separated by minute spaces. This type of soil feels smooth and sticky. Organic matter is also easily trapped, which causes good fertility. However, it is heavy to dig, may be waterlogged in winter, and easily dries out in summer.

Sandy soils are made up of relatively large particles that leave big gaps between them. It is known as light soil and feels gritty and falls apart. This type of soil is easy to dig and allows water to drain quickly.

Soil’s pH Level: Assessing the acidity or alkalinity of your soil will help you draw up your planting plan because it can help you know what plants will grow well. For example, azaleas only grow well on acidic soil, but acanthus plants prefer alkaline conditions. Therefore, it’s best to use a soil testing kit and follow the kit’s instructions to find out your soil’s pH level so that you can adjust the level according to the type of fruits and vegetables you want to grow. You should note that pH can vary within the soil and across the garden. Therefore, it’s best to use soil samples from just below the surface and take several samples from different corners of your yard to ensure an even overall result. Taking notes of the soils you used can help you remember and compare the results.

SOIL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS The soil in most suburban yards has been damaged during the construction process. Typically, it was scraped away and sold, or it was compacted during building. However, if you follow the right instructions, even very poor soil can be dramatically

HOW TO Keep Plants Thriving by Improving Garden Soil

i m p r o v e d . Your plants will be more vigorous and more productive if their roots are in healthy soil.

Too Sandy or Dense: Sandy soil prevents plants from becoming waterlogged in winter, but it has the tendency to drain away the nutrients before plants have a chance to absorb them. In dry conditions, plants often require extra irrigation and moisture-loving species suffer. On the other hand, clay particles are easy to pack together but can be too sticky and practically unworkable. Plants’ roots suffer because it is too hard for them to push their way through the soil. Lack of pore space also means that clay soils are generally low in both organic matter and microbial activity.

Adding organic matter such as well-rotted manure or finished compost will help sandy soil retain moisture and nutrients. You can also add mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw because they help retain moisture and cool the soil. If you have clay soil, adding coarse sand will increase the drainage and improve the range of plants that you can grow. Adding organic matter will also improve clay soil’s texture and make it more crumbly and easier to work with.

Too Acidic or Alkaline: Soil’s pH is measured on a scale of one to fourteen. The lower the pH level is, the higher the

acidity is. Above a pH of 8.5, the soil is too alkaline for most

plants, but if the soil’s pH is below 3.5, it will be too acidic. Soil nutrients will start to become

chemically bound to the soil particles if the pH of your soil is too high or too low. This unbalance will negatively affect the plants’ health because it demolishes the nutrients in the soil and the plants’ roots can’t absorb enough nutrients.

The most common way to make your soil less acidic is to add limestone, poultry manure, or wood ash. On the other hand, you can incorporate naturally acidic organic materials such as conifer needles, sawdust, peat moss and oak leaves if you want to acidify your soil. Just remember you should add a little at a time, especially when you already have plants in the ground. It’s best to add a small amount and wait at least three months to reapply because you want to avoid shocking the plants.

When you want to improve your soil’s quality, remember getting the balance right is key. Whether you need to balance the texture or the pH level of your soil, turning a poor soil into a plant-friendly soil is not difficult to do after you understand the basic techniques for assessing and amending soils. For more tips on how to care for your soil, visit the Esposito Lawn & Garden Center.

Shannon RuarkEsposito Lawn & Garden Center