Soil Amendments
Soil is alive. Yes, that’s right. It is one of the most biodiverse habitats on earth. One shovel of soil contains more species of microorganisms than the entire above ground ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest 😮
Soil is the foundation of any garden and supports healthy organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and earthworms, which all create that dynamic ecosystem. Good soil will produce strong and healthy plants that are more productive and more resistant to pests and disease.
Feed the soil, not the plant.
-unknown
Building a balanced soil is dependent on these key elements:
Minerals
Organic Matter
Air
Water
Living Organisms
Soil Texture
Growing healthy soil starts with understanding what kind of soil you have. This can be done with easy soil tests available at most garden centers or home improvement stores. You can send the soil away for full and comprehensive testing but a lot of home kits can provide insight on:
pH (whether your soil is acidic or alkaline)
Macronutrient levels (these are the big three: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium)
Secondary and micronutrient levels
Soil texture
Organic matter amount
Here is an easy test you can do, right now, with no tools or testing kits! Coined the “squeeze test”, just take a handful of moistened soil (not soggy), squeeze it in the palm of your hand, open your hand, and observe if it:
Holds it’s shape at first and then falls apart when poked, it’s loamy (that is what we want!)
Holds it’s shape even when poked, you have clay soil. Clay soil will feel hard when dry, slippery when wet, and rubbery when moist.
Breaks as soon as you open your hand, you have sandy or silty soil. It will feel gritty and silty soil will feel smooth, like flour.
No matter what, don’t get discouraged! This is why I firmly believe in raised garden beds. You have control over the contents of the beds and can easily amend with organic matter and certain soil enhancements to ensure you have that ideal loamy texture.
If this all seems overwhelming. Please don’t let it be! Schedule a consultation or shoot me a message and we can walk through some ways to improve or perfect your situation. Happy planting!
