Making sure your garden soil is healthy – what you should do?
If you are a keen gardener, you want to make sure that your outside space looks as good as possible. You also want to ensure that the growing environment is as productive as it can be. In order for this to happen, you need to ensure that your plants are well cared for, that your garden is kept in a tidy state and that the quality of the soil is as high as possible.
One of the best ways to ensure that your garden remains tidy is to get rid of weeds and ensure that bushes and shrubs are cut back. You can check out weed whacker reviews online, to make sure you get the best product for your needs. There are also several actions you can take, in order to maintain a healthy soil base in your garden.
What makes garden soil healthy?
In order to make sure that the soil in your garden is in good condition it’s a good idea to know what healthy soil is. The best type of soil to have in your garden is loam. This is crumbly soil that is packed with organic matter and keeps hold of moisture, so that plants can grow more easily. You may find that the soil in your garden contains large amounts of clay. This is not ideal because the roots of plants have a hard time growing through the clay. If you have patience, you can spend time improving clay soil, so that you provide a better environment for plants to grow in. Sandy soil can also provide a challenge as it can be difficult to get it to retain moisture.
Generally speaking, healthy soil should be:
- Crumbly in texture.
- Full of organic matter.
- At the right pH level. Most plants prefer a neutral pH.
How to improve the soil in your garden
If you do not think that your garden soil is as healthy as it should be, there are things you can do to help improve matters.
- Test the soil, so that you have more knowledge about factors such as the pH level and the texture.
- Improve the organic matter situation by adding compost. This not only adds organic matter to the soil, it also introduces microorganisms which help with breaking down the organic matter. You may also want to add extras such as manure and coffee grounds which can also provide additional nutrients for the soil.
- Change the pH of the soil. If you have your soil tested, and the pH level is too low or too high, you should receive advice about adjusting it in the testing report.
- Do not step on soil. Every time you step on soil in your garden, it compacts. This is not good when you want plant roots to be able to grow through it.
- Dig only when absolutely necessary as undisturbed soil is healthier. Lay compost on the top of the soil and the action of the worms should help it to integrate.
The presence of healthy soil is important for any garden. These tips should help you achieve a good soil environment in your outside space.
