HOW TO PREPARE SOIL FOR FIRST TIME GARDEN
The first step in preparing soil for the first time garden is having it analysed so as find out whether minerals are deficient or rich. Low-cost soil tests are frequently available through local Cooperative Extension Services. These tests typically assess pH, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and nitrogen levels in the soil.
They may also indicate the micronutrient content of the soil, but this isn’t necessary for a gardener who adds plenty of organic matter. Pick up a do-it-yourself version, such as the Rapitest Soil Test Kit, for a less intensive test and complete your own basic, gratifying chemistry.
The ability of your plant to absorb nutrients is influenced by pH levels. The majority of minerals and nutrients are best absorbed by plants in soils with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. If your soil is acidic (low pH, at or below 6.0) or alkaline (high pH, above 7.0), the plants will not be able to absorb the nutrients, no matter how rich they are.
The ability of your plant to absorb nutrients is influenced by pH levels. The majority of minerals and nutrients are best absorbed by plants in soils with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. If your soil is acidic (low pH, at or below 6.0) or alkaline (high pH, above 7.0), the plants will not be able to absorb the nutrients, no matter how rich they are.
A pH test is normally included with a soil test, but you may also purchase a pH Meter and assess your soil’s acid-alkaline balance on your own.
When the soil is most stable, the optimum time to test it is in the spring or fall. If your soil is lacking in minerals or nutrients, now is the optimum time to add soil amendments or organic fertilizer.
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Garden Soil Improvement
The ideal technique to prepare soil for planting is to add organic matter in the form of compost and aged manure, or to use mulch or cultivate cover crops (green manures). Chemical fertilizers will only supply a few nutrients while doing little to maintain excellent, friable soil. Organic materials will assist your plants get all they require.
Air
Plants, like humans, require air, both above ground and in the soil for photosynthesis. The air in the soil contains atmospheric nitrogen, which can be transformed into a form that plants can use. Soil oxygen is also necessary for the survival of beneficial soil organisms.
Good soil has just the appropriate amount of space between its particles to allow plants to breathe. Small particles are close together in silty and heavy clay soils. There isn’t much air in these deep soils. Sandy soils, on the other hand, have an issue with particles that are excessively large and spaced out. In sandy soil, an abundance of air causes organic materials to decompose quickly.
Organic debris, particularly compost, can help to balance the air supply (the perfect soil is about 25 percent air). Also, avoid stepping in the beds or using heavy machinery that could compact the soil. If the soil is really damp, avoid working it.
Water
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Water is required for all forms of life, including plants and soil creatures, but not in excess or insufficient amounts. Water should make up roughly 25% of healthy soil.
Water quickly drains through soils with too much pore space (sandy soils) and is unavailable to plants. The soil becomes saturated in thick, silty, or clay soils because all of the pore space is filled with water. Plant roots and soil organisms will be suffocated as a result of this.
Small and wide pore gaps are found in the best soils. The greatest technique to improve the structure of your soil by forming aggregates is to add organic matter (see below). Furthermore, organic matter retains water for plants to use when they require it.
Life in the Soil
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Healthy soil requires a healthy population of organisms. These tiny creatures make nutrients available to plants and link soil particles into aggregates, resulting in a loose, fluffy soil. Earthworms, nematodes, springtails, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, mites, and a variety of other species live in the soil.
Some of these creatures can be purchased and added to the soil, but they will not thrive unless the environment is conducive to their growth. It’s preferable to provide them with the food (organic matter), air, and water they require and then let them thrive on their own.
Organic Substances
Adding compost to practically any soil will improve it. The texture of silty and clay soils, as well as their nutrient levels, are dramatically improved once the compost has been mixed in. With annual treatments on top, all soils improve. You can buy organic compost by the bag or by the yard, or you can manufacture your own at home.
