Healthy soil is the key to happy plants.
Key Takeaways
Healthy soil is the key to happy plants.
It’s fast draining yet moisture retentive, neither too dense nor too loose.
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In the topsoil, earthworms improve drainage and aeration as they tunnel, while their castings add nutrients.
Below the topsoil is the subsoil.
Although it contains plant nutrients, it’s not as hospitable to roots as the topsoil.
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Improving your topsoil can have the most beneficial effect on plant health.
you’re able to purchase compost at a garden center or make your own.
See our guide to composting.
Wood Products
Ground bark is useful in clay soils; it helps separate fine clay particles.
Never use fresh wood chips.
Coir fiber won’t help acidify the soil the way peat does.
Cover crops are natural soil enrichers.
Allow a couple of days, till again.
Rake smooth, and plant.
When the plants decompose, the nitrogen is released back into the soil.
The best way to improve soil drainage is to work in large amounts of organic matter.
you’re free to also regrade the area so that excess water drains off.
Or createraised bedsabove the problem soil and fill them with good soil.
A pH of 5 to 7.2 is ideal for most plants.
Soil with a pH of 7 is neutralneither acid nor alkaline.
A pH below 7 indicates acidity, while one above 7 indicates alkalinity.
For a more precise reading, have the test done at a laboratory.
Once you know the pH of your soil, you’re able to adjust as necessary.
For acid soil, raise pH byadding lime.
For alkaline soil, you’re free to lower soil pH by adding sulfur.
And to treat salty soil, add organic matter and flood the soil periodically to wash away the salts.
Must-Have Garden Tools
Thesefive toolsare the most useful for working the soil.
With your soil in tiptop shape, you’re ready to start adding your plants.
