Preparing Your Garden Soil

Lawn & Garden

To ensure that your plants grow healthy and strong, it’s important to have the right texture and nutrients in your garden soil. Most gardeners will need to do some work on their soil before it’s in top condition. You can improve your soil by adding organic material or fertilizers. There are many ways to achieve the perfect soil, such as creating a good mixture of sand, silt, clay, and organic material. In this article, you’ll learn about ways to improve the quality of your soil through the use of mulch, compost, and several different types of fertilizer. You’ll also learn about the unique properties of soil used for container gardening. Keep reading to begin the process of testing your garden soil.

Don’t despair if you don’t have the loose, dark earth of those fabulous gardens you’ve seen on television and in magazines. It can be created by improving your existing soil for fertility and good drainage. Soils can be amended with sand to make them looser and drier or with clay to make them moister and firmer. They can be given plentiful doses of organic material, such as old leaves, ground-up twigs, livestock manure, and old lawn clippings, plus appropriate fertilizer. Organic matter improves and nourishes any kind of soil, which, in turn, encourages better plant growth. Some soils are naturally pretty good, but others may need significant improvement if they are to support a beautiful garden.

Before you start adding fertilizers and amendments to your soil, it’s important to have it tested. Soil tests can give you a clear picture of what your soil needs to succeed, such as the acidity level and how to balance it for the benefit of your plants. This is in keeping with the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Sometimes unnecessary tampering with nutrients or soil acidity can actually create more problems than benefits. Your soil texture checkup has shown the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in your soil, a good starting point for improving it.

Looking at your weeds can also provide insight into your soil’s condition. If a vacant garden area has few weeds taking advantage of the opening, the soil is likely to need plenty of work. If they are growing, but only sparsely, and have short, stunted stems and discolored leaves, the area may have a nutrient deficiency, and a soil test is in order. If, in newly tilled soil, weeds sprout up quickly in certain areas and more slowly in others, the weedy areas are likely to be moister and better for seed germination.

Looking for more information about gardening? Try these:

• How to Start a Garden: Find out how to get your garden started.
• Garden Soil Tips: Learn everything you need to know about your garden’s soil.
• Vegetable Garden Soil: Learn how to prepare, test, and fertilize soil for a successful vegetable garden.
• Annuals for Average Soil: Learn about annual flowers that thrive in average soil.
• Perennials for Average Soil: Find out which perennials do best in average soil.
• Gardening: Learn the basics of successful gardening.

Testing Your Garden Soil

©2007 Jupiter Images Corporation It’s important to avoid over-fertilizing your soil, so it’s essential to get it tested to determine the right amount of nutrients. Soil testing also provides information on pH levels and organic content, both of which are crucial for healthy plants. You can contact your local Cooperative Extension Service to obtain a soil-testing kit, which includes a soil-collecting bag and instructions. Follow the instructions carefully to obtain an accurate report, which may include a chart full of numbers that can be intimidating at first. However, looking for specific information will help you interpret the results. For instance, if the percentage of organic matter is less than 5 percent, you need to add more compost. Nutrient levels will also be listed separately, with some being available in high, medium, or low levels. If a nutrient is low, you’ll need to add a fertilizer to make up for it. Soil pH is another important factor. A pH below 7 indicates an acidic soil, while a pH above 7 is alkaline. A pH between 6 and 7 is ideal for most plants. If your soil is too acidic or alkaline, you can treat it to make it more fertile and productive.

Need more information on gardening? Check out these resources:

• How to Start a Garden: A guide to getting started with your garden.
• Garden Soil Tips: Everything you need to know about your garden’s soil.
• Vegetable Garden Soil: Learn how to prepare, test, and fertilize soil for a successful vegetable garden.
• Annuals for Average Soil: Discover annual flowers that thrive in average soil.
• Perennials for Average Soil: Find out which perennials do best in average soil.
• Gardening: The basics of successful gardening.

Skip the Labor-Intensive Method

You can kill off sod or dense weeds by layering newspaper, compost, and mulch directly on the garden site. This method blocks the sunlight from reaching unwanted vegetation, causing it to decay and add organic matter to the garden. The newspaper will also decompose, providing additional nutrients.

Understanding Soil pH Levels

Garden soil tests also measure pH levels. If your soil is very acidic, you should consider growing acid-loving plants or using ground limestone to raise the pH. Limestone is nature’s soil sweetener and can neutralize overly acidic soils. It’s best to add limestone in the fall to allow it enough time to start dissolving and doing its job. The amount of limestone you use will depend on the specific soil conditions, so make sure to follow the guidelines on the package or your soil test. Recheck the soil’s pH every year and continue to add limestone as needed to maintain the new and improved pH level.

If your soil test indicates that your soil is alkaline, there are several ways to make it more acidic. You can add cottonseed meal, pine bark, compost, sulfur, or pine needles. Garden sulfur is a reliable solution when added according to the recommended amount indicated in the soil test. The sulfur is converted to sulfuric acid and other compounds by microbes, which slowly acidify the soil. On the other hand, soil amendments such as compost, decaying pine bark, and ground-up pine needles gradually improve the soil texture and acidity level. Composting is an economical and organic way to add nutrients to your garden soil. For more information about gardening, check out the links provided below.

Processed and packaged fertilizers are available for various nutrients. Bat guano, blood meal, chicken manure, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, kelp meal, and livestock manure are sources of nitrogen. Bonemeal, rock phosphate, and super phosphate are sources of phosphorus. Granite meal, greensand, seabird guano, shrimp shell meal, sulfate of potash, and wood ashes are sources of potassium. Bonemeal, chelated calcium, eggshells, limestone, oyster shells, and wood ashes are sources of calcium. Borax, chelated boron, and manure are sources of boron. Chelated copper is a source of copper. Chelated magnesium, dolomitic limestone, and Epsom salts are sources of magnesium. Iron sulfate, sulfur, and zinc sulfate are sources of sulfur. Chelated zinc and zinc sulfate are sources of zinc. Chelated iron and iron sulfate are sources of iron.

Compost is an excellent way to add organic matter to any type of garden soil. Compost is simply organic matter that has already broken down to a point where its minerals and nutrients are accessible to plants. You can make your own compost or buy it. The organic material decays quickly when blended with equal amounts of nitrogen-rich soft and green material, such as manure, fruit and vegetable peels, grass clippings, green leaves, strips of turf, and alfalfa, as well as carbon-rich brown and material, such as wood chips, ground-up twigs, sawdust, pruning scraps, autumn leaves, and straw. Making your own compost lets you recycle kitchen and yard waste while improving your garden.

Need more information on gardening? Check out these resources:

• Getting Started with Gardening: Discover how to start your own garden.
• Garden Soil Tips: Learn everything you need to know about soil for your garden.
• Preparing Vegetable Garden Soil: Get tips on how to prepare, test, and fertilize soil for a successful vegetable garden.
• Annual Flowers for Average Soil: Find out which annual flowers thrive in average soil.
• Perennials for Average Soil: Discover which perennials do best in average soil.
• Gardening Basics: Learn the essentials for successful gardening.

Optional Equipment for Making Compost

• Compost inoculant
• Compost thermometer
• Compost tumbler
• Garden fork
• Sifting screen
• Stackable composting bin
• Vented plastic bins
• Wire composting bin
• Wooden composting bin
• Worm boxes

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How to Create a Compost Pile

Using yard scraps is an excellent way to create nutrient-rich organic material for your garden. To start your own compost pile, gather yard scraps and dump them in a far corner of your yard. A good mixture contains equal parts of soft or green material (such as manure and fresh leaves) and hard or brown material (such as dead leaves and chopped twigs). See the list above for more ideas. Alternatively, you can keep your compost materials contained in a wooden slat or wire-mesh bin, complete with an access door at the bottom for easy removal of the finished compost while the rest continues to decay.

To speed up the decay of organic materials, add compost starter or good garden soil to your compost pile. Compost starter contains microorganisms that promote decay, while some brands also include nutrients, enzymes, hormones, and other stimulants to speed up the process. Chopping up leaves and twigs before adding them to the pile can also help accelerate the compost-making process. A chipper-shredder or mulching mower can make this task easier.

To aerate compost piles, you can use perforated PVC pipes. A good compost pile should be around three to four feet high so that it can generate enough heat from the process of decay. High temperatures help to semi-sterilize the compost, killing off disease spores, pests, and weed seeds. However, decomposers require plenty of air to work efficiently and create heat, not just at the surface of the pile. Traditionally, aeration is provided by turning the pile with a pitchfork, but this can be avoided by adding a perforated pipe in the center of the pile, surrounded by layers of old leaves, grass clippings, and other garden waste. This allows air to flow through the pipe and into the pile, making the process easier.

Making compost takes several months, so many gardeners prefer to purchase bagged compost instead. Regardless of how it’s obtained, compost is a great additive for soil that is low in organic materials. It can help to lighten clay soil and improve aeration, while improving water-holding capacity in sandy soil.

In addition to composting, there are many other ways to improve the quality of garden soil. Adding mulch is one such method, as it can help to release minerals into the soil and fertilize existing plants. Humic acid, another product of decay, can also contribute to making the soil lighter and fluffier. To get the best results, it’s important to add a thick layer of mulch and let it rot over time.

If you’re interested in learning more about gardening, there are many resources available. Try checking out our articles on starting a garden, soil tips, vegetable gardening, and more. Additionally, you might want to consider trying high-speed gardening, which involves making compost in a more relaxed, laid-back way.

When using woody mulch like shredded bark, it’s important to add extra nitrogen to prevent the decay process from using up soil nitrogen that plants need to grow. Avoid using fine-textured mulches, such as grass clippings, in thick layers that can mat down and suffocate the soil. Mulch is great for keeping the soil moist, but it’s best to use it in well-drained areas that won’t become waterlogged or attract plant-eating slugs and snails. If your garden is lacking essential nutrients, you may need to use fertilizers to give it a boost. Check out the next page for more information on garden fertilizers. For more gardening tips, try reading up on how to start a garden, caring for garden soil, or getting the best out of annual and perennial plants. When mowing the lawn in autumn, use a lawn mower with a bagger to shred leaves and grass clippings together for a powerful compost mix. Garden fertilizers come in a range of different formulations, each with specific attributes for different plants. Slow-release fertilizers release nutrients gradually over time, while liquid or soluble fertilizers give plants an instant boost but need to be reapplied regularly.

Organic material, like composted manure, is a great source of major and minor nutrients that your soil needs, along with trace elements. It helps to improve the texture of the soil and introduce organisms that contribute to the nutrient supply. Although organic fertilizers contain fewer nutrients by weight, averaging from one to about six or seven percent, they should be used more frequently than synthetic chemical fertilizers. Inorganic lawn fertilizers, on the other hand, may contain up to 30 percent nitrogen, which is more than four times as much as organic fertilizers.

Lower-dose organic fertilizers are unlikely to burn plant roots or cause nutrient overdoses, and many forms release their components slowly, providing a long-term nutrient supply. Organic fertilizers may also provide a spectrum of lesser nutrients, even enzymes and hormones that can benefit growth. When it comes to choosing the right fertilizer for your garden, it’s important to know the different types of garden fertilizers available.

Side-dressing with granular fertilizers in spring and mid-summer is a great way to give annuals a feeding boost that will keep them in top growing and flowering condition through the summer. Slow-release fertilizers should be used once in the spring. Liquid fertilizers provide nutrients immediately, but be careful not to overdo it. Fish emulsion fertilizer is perfect for encouraging a burst of growth from new plantings, potted flowers and vegetables, or anything that is growing slowly.

When gardening in containers, it’s easier to adjust the soil to suit your plants. Knowing the different types of soil fertilizers available can help you choose the best one for your garden.

Need more knowledge about gardening? Check out these resources:

• How to Begin a Garden: Discover the steps to start your own garden.
• Garden Soil Advice: Learn all about the soil in your garden.
• Soil Preparation for Vegetable Gardens: Get tips on preparing, testing, and fertilizing soil for a successful vegetable garden.
• Annuals for Average Soil: Find out about annual flowers that do well in average soil.
• Perennials for Average Soil: Learn which perennials thrive in average soil.
• Gardening Basics: Master the fundamentals of successful gardening.

Soil for Growing Plants in Containers

When growing plants in containers, the soil in the pot is the sole source of nutrients for the plants.

Container gardening is an excellent option for novice gardeners since you can more easily regulate the soil quality (as well as other factors like light exposure) than with a traditional garden. However, it’s vital to prepare the soil correctly for plants grown in containers.

Soil quality and fertility are critical for container plants since they rely solely on the soil in the pot for the necessary nutrients and moisture. They are unable to extend their roots further in search of more nutrients or escape from overly damp conditions that can cause rotting.

The ideal soil mix depends on several factors, such as the type of plant, climate, and amount of sunlight. Most gardeners prevent pests and diseases in their pots by using commercial soil mixes, but you can use your own compost if you trust it.

For most plants, choose a commercial soil mix designed for potted plants. If it doesn’t include added fertilizer, mix in time-release fertilizer beads following the package instructions. Alternatively, create your own potting soil by using one-third each of loam, peat moss or compost, and perlite, and include time-release fertilizer.

You can also add gel granules to keep the soil moist. For plants that require excellent drainage, such as narcissi, tulips, cyclamen, and others with bulbous roots, add plenty of extra perlite to the mix and top off the pots with tiny pebbles or a quarter-inch layer of perlite.

Need more knowledge about gardening? Check out these resources:

• How to Begin a Garden: Discover the steps to start your own garden.
• Garden Soil Advice: Learn all about the soil in your garden.
• Soil Preparation for Vegetable Gardens: Get tips on preparing, testing, and fertilizing soil for a successful vegetable garden.
• Container Gardens: Learn how to grow and nurture container plants.
• Gardening Basics: Master the fundamentals of successful gardening.

FAQ

1. What is garden soil preparation?

Garden soil preparation is the process of getting the soil ready for planting. It involves loosening the soil, adding nutrients, and making sure it has the right pH level for the plants you want to grow.

2. When should you prepare your garden soil?

You should prepare your garden soil in the fall or spring. Fall is a good time to add organic matter like compost, manure, or leaves to the soil, which will help improve soil structure and increase nutrients. Spring is a good time to till the soil and add any necessary amendments like lime or sulfur to adjust the pH level.

3. How do you test garden soil?

You can test garden soil using a soil test kit, which you can buy at a garden center or online. The kit will tell you the pH level of your soil as well as the levels of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can also send a soil sample to a lab for more detailed analysis.

4. What is the ideal pH level for garden soil?

The ideal pH level for garden soil depends on the plants you want to grow. Most plants prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH level between 6 and 7. You can adjust the pH level of your soil using lime to make it more alkaline or sulfur to make it more acidic.

5. How do you improve garden soil?

You can improve garden soil by adding organic matter like compost, manure, or leaves, which will help improve soil structure and increase nutrients. You can also add amendments like lime or sulfur to adjust the pH level, or add fertilizers to increase nutrient levels.

6. What is the best way to loosen garden soil?

The best way to loosen garden soil is by tilling it with a garden tiller. You can also use a garden fork to loosen the soil, but this can be more labor-intensive. Another option is to use a broadfork, which is a tool that loosens soil without disturbing the soil structure too much.

7. Can you plant directly into garden soil?

Yes, you can plant directly into garden soil. However, it’s important to make sure the soil is prepared properly beforehand to ensure your plants have the best chance of thriving. This means adding amendments like lime or sulfur to adjust the pH level, adding organic matter to improve soil structure and increase nutrients, and tilling or loosening the soil to make it easier for roots to grow.

8. How often should you prepare your garden soil?

You should prepare your garden soil at least once a year, either in the fall or spring. However, if your soil is particularly poor or if you’re growing plants that require specific soil conditions, you may need to prepare your soil more frequently. It’s a good idea to test your soil regularly to make sure it has the right pH level and nutrient levels for the plants you want to grow.