Soil is Best For a Garden
Whether you have an established garden or are just starting one, the quality of your soil is an important factor in the growth of your plants. Choosing the right soil for your garden will help it thrive and produce healthy, tasty vegetables.
Soil is made up of a blend of sand, silt and clay, along with other minerals. There are many different kinds of garden soil available at home improvement stores. Each is formulated to target specific types of Garden Soil and plants. The main purpose of garden soil is to improve the quality of the top layer of the ground, called topsoil. It’s intended to be used as a base layer for new gardens, and can also be used to fill in areas where topsoil isn’t available or where your existing lawn has a low area.
The ideal mixture of soil for most plants is loam, which contains a blend of sand, silt, and clay. It’s rich in humus, an organic material composed of decaying matter that helps improve the texture and aeration of the soil.
What Soil is Best For a Garden?
A healthy pH is a key element to plant health and success. Keeping your soil’s pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 helps your plant roots absorb and use the essential nutrients they need. Some plants are able to handle more acidic conditions while others prefer soil with a more alkaline pH. You can test your soil’s pH using a simple soil testing kit to determine its acidity and the best way to adjust it.
Raised beds require a special type of soil, specifically a mixture that is designed to be deep enough to support heavy roots but not so deep that it’s too wet. The soil mixture should be a 50:50 mix of garden soil and local topsoil, preferably from your own yard. It’s best to avoid pre-made mixes that have been mixed, as the organic matter isn’t a good substitute for compost and manure.
Vegetables grown in containers need a soil mix that retains moisture and retains the beneficial aeration and verimular activity of earthworms. This is especially true for potted tomato plants, which can dry out faster than those in the ground and lose their vital nutrients more easily.
A soil mix that contains a good amount of organic matter, like a mix of compost and well-aged manure, is a good choice for most flower gardens. This mix will not only improve the texture and aeration of your soil, but it will also supply the essential nutrients that most flowers need to grow.
For containers, a blend of equal parts of garden soil and moist, coarse sphagnum peat moss is a good choice. For better drainage, add coarse sand, perlite or vermiculite to the mix.