Improve Your Garden Soil
Do you have a problem getting your garden to grow?
Have you tried fertilizers and regular watering but your plants
still come out looking pretty sad? Before you chock it up to your
seemingly brown thumb you may consider that
your problem may be improper
soil. Often soils don’t have the right texture or chemical
properties for plants to grow well. They need a little help. The good news is: even though
you can’t replace the soil you have, there are things you can do to
make it
a better environment for your plants. Fixing your soil takes
a few simple steps. With a little work you’ll be on your way to having
a beautiful garden in no time.
The most common problem with soil is that it isn’t the optimal
texture. The best soil for growing a garden is loam. Loam holds
appropriate amounts of water and allows enough aeration in the soil.
Sandy soil doesn’t allow proper draining or aeration. Clay soil gets
very hard and can allow essential moisture to wash away without ever
penetration into your plant’s roots.
To test your soil, wet it slightly and take a ball or
soil in your hand. If your soil is sandy, it won’t form into a ball.
If it is clay, it will form into a ball and not break apart easily.
Both these problems can be fixed by mixing in a thin layer of
compost into your soil with a gardening fork. For sandy soil, add
fine particles of compost. Add coarser particles to loosen up a clay
soil.
Another
common problem with garden soil is an improper pH level. You can
find kits to test your soil’s pH at most garden supply stores. The
pH of your garden should be between 6.0 and 7.5. Anything higher or
lower is too acidic or too alkaline for proper growth. If your soil
is too acidic, you can raise the pH level by adding various
materials, including: crushed egg, clam or oyster shells, wood
ashes, or calcitic lime. For an alkaline soil, pH can be lowered
using sawdust, woodchips, peat moss, or pine needles.
Now you are on your way to a gorgeous
garden...well unless of course you really do
have a brown thumb....
See also:
5 Ways to Gets Kids
involved in Gardening |
Seed Suppliers List
|
Reasons to Garden Organically |
Get Rid of Pests |
Composting
Gardening Books
