Christine Lucas is back for another Friday horticulture lesson! This time she shares her insights on the importance of soil health and tactics you can implement now to gain long-term garden rewards.
Avid gardeners know the importance of soil health and its correlation with plant health. The complexity of this issue, however, makes it an area where newbies often skimp. If only they could get by without costly soil amendments and put that dough toward extra flowers. It doesn’t work, and practitioners of this thrifty policy will throw more money down the drain in the long run.
Soils differ from region to region, and identifying what you’ve got is the first step in decreasing maintenance of that site once planted. Coastal areas, like Savannah, have a high sand content. Water and water soluble fertilizer pass through them quickly. There are some cases, however, where land has been disturbed and soil relocated. A forty-five minute drive into Hardeeville, South Carolina and you’ll find a subdivision where owners are dealing with clay soil for this very reason. It drains poorly, expands and contracts with changing moisture levels, and makes it very difficult for plants to grow healthy roots.
Beyond soil texture is an important area of concern: soil nutrient levels. Plants that don’t receive adequate nutrition look bad, and they are less resistant to stress from drought, insects, and disease. Nitrogen makes plentiful green leaves. Phosphate encourages roots and bountiful blooms. Potassium helps roots as well as overall plant vigor. A five dollar test from a garden center will ball park what soil amendments you might need. For a more accurate report, contact your local county extension service. The results can take about three weeks, but they will serve your garden better.
Construct soil specific to the plants you want to grow. If you are growing palms and other drought-resistant plants, you don’t need a lot of organic matter. That means you don’t have to go buy cow manure and mushroom compost. In contrast, if you have a perennial bed that you don’t get out to water much, a soil rich in organic matter will retain moisture. Also inquire about or research a given plant’s preference. Begonias and impatiens are both annuals that enjoy shade, but a begonia will rot if placed in heavy soil with constant water. Impatiens love it. Mind you, drainage is still important to avoid root rot.
Soilhealth.com is an Australian Web site dedicated to informing people about healthy soil properties. They mention the previous factors but also go into soil organisms–what’s living in your soil. It’s a good read for those wondering why this stuff is so important. Some composts like Farmer D boast “biodynamic blends,” and you will pay for them. The waste in Farmer D’s compost comes partly from Whole Foods Supermarket. It costs more than other composts, but it has more to offer.
You can achieve the same benefit by creating your own compost pile. Composters come in different sizes and shapes with the ultimate goal being to heat the pile and break down refuse to a usable form for plants. The labor involved in keeping a compost pile makes some turn their noses up, but it becomes an obsession for others. Passionate gardeners tweak there compost with additives, turn it religiously, and admire–like gold–handfuls of black compost that will feed their gardens. The other plus, of course, is throwing less into the landfill.
Homeowners that are uninformed harm soil with their practices. Too much synthetic fertilizer is not good for soil, because it contains a high salt content. That, in turn, is bad for plants. Don’t assume that fertilizer is a cure all. You can over fertilize and hurt your plants, soil and wallet. A customer of mine told me she fertilized her azaleas three times of year. It never occurred to her to determine whether they needed it.
Homeowners looking to save money often choose synthetic fertilizer over organic soil amendments, because they are cheaper, convenient, and work faster. True supporters of soil health look at the long term. Soil that has been fed organically may require a bigger investment at the beginning but need less in years to come. The same goes for those applying insecticides to the ground for grubs, mole crickets, cinch bugs, and more. Those products don’t just go away. Some, like Imidacloprid, have shown great soil mobility (meaning they endanger the water table) and take five years to completely break down.
Land, as we’ve seen so terrifyingly in the news, can tear apart beneath our feet. If we are lucky enough to have a firm foundation, it is important to learn how to take care of it. Start by asking questions.
