What are garden soil and what can it do for you? Soil is the generic term for what is already there in the earth before you begin gardening. It’s what the plants, roots, and even animals that exist in this world are made of. Soil has a variety of ingredients and qualities, such as pH, nutrient content, salt, fertility, and even quantity of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. It’s also the basis for many types of gardens, including flower gardening and fruit and vegetable gardening.
Natural soil will provide the perfect blend of nutrients your plants need for healthy growth. It is the foundation on which you will plant your seeds, because it is the layer of topsoil where everything starts. If you have the proper amount of natural soil, it will act as a sponge and soak up all the water and moisture from your plants as soon as you turn them over. The roots will then start to grow and take care of the extra water yourself. Loose organic matter such as compost is the perfect mix to add into your garden soil to increase its overall volume.
You can improve the texture of your garden soil by adding organic materials to it. One example of these materials is bone meal. This is found from a local pet store and is great at breaking up plant materials. Another good idea is using bentonite clay for your gardening mix. Bentonite clay is a natural fertilizer that is made when clay is mixed with water. It’s strong so it doesn’t run off as easily, but it absorbs a great deal of nutrients that the other ingredients in your garden soil may not.
There are two types of gardening soil available on the market today. One type of gardening soil is worm castings. These are created from the excrement of worms that are active in their natural environment. They will excrete some of their waste in the form of castings. Gardeners that have gardens with many worm castings are able to eliminate the need for using fertilizers and they are left with a better quality of soil.
Another type of organic gardening soil is raw manure. When animals feed on the plants in your garden, there is a great deal of organic material that is left behind. Many times this material is very nutritious for the plants. Farmers use this organic fertilizer by making piles in their yards. Other people compost their manure in their gardens, but often this is not the best choice for gardeners, since it can take quite a while to compost enough manure to make a significant difference in the quality of soil.
In addition to composted manure, some gardeners turn over the topsoil to create a bed of organic fertilizer. This bed of soil is also known as a tiller. By turning the soil over, the plants get a chance to grow, stretch and develop without being crowded out by large pieces of weeds. A tiller can be used with a small garden tractor or with a larger machine for large gardens. However, both methods will require an ongoing supply of fertilizer, which can be more expensive than the other options.
Other organic gardening materials that can be added to the soil in order to improve its quality are stone dust, coarse sand and fine-ground sand. Stone dust can work wonders in container gardens. It can add a beautiful look to the soil, while at the same time working well to control the plant’s nutrient absorption. Fine-ground sand works wonders for plant root development and can be used to help control plant diseases. However, it is important to use these kinds of sand in conjunction with what is called a light-weight perlite.
What is Humus? Humus is the remains of fallen plant matter that is organic in nature. Many gardeners believe that the main benefit to Humus is that it provides plant nutrients that are better for the roots, which promotes stronger root growth and healthier plant overall. Because Humus is organic, however, it also retains more water than other gardeners’ soils, which can be an issue during droughts.