A fantasy that every gardener has is a garden full of rich dark soil. Lofty, soft soil you can turn with your hand and so fertile your plants grow to robust, flavorful perfection. Not bothered by pests, or the stresses of heat and drought. The soil teaming with beneficial microorganisms and earth worms. With an understanding of how to build healthy soil and some hard work you can make this fantasy come true. Using compost as the primary ingredient to bring your soil back to great health.
Soil acidity is a key element in your plants ability to properly absorb nutrients and micro-nutrients. An easy way to check your soils pH is with an inexpensive chemical pH test kit. To sweeten acidic soils use ground lime stone which is calcium carbonate. Spread the lime at a rate of 7-8 pounds per 100 square feet of clay soil. 7-10 pounds per 100 square feet for loam or silty soils and 3-6 pounds per 100 square feet for sandy soils. Wood ashes, eggshells, bone meal, coffee grounds, and crushed oyster shells will also work to sweeten mildly acidic soils. The addition of compost will also aid in neutralizing the pH of your soil because finished compost has a neutral reading of 6.0-7.0.
If your soil is alkaline you can balance the pH by applying 2 pounds of ground sulfur per 100 square feet for clay or loam soils and 1 pound per 100 square feet for sandy or silty soils. You can also add organic materials like sawdust, pine needles, and peat moss to aid in changing the pH level.
When adding fertilizer to the soil you want to check for the three major elements. N-nitrogen, P-phosphorus, K-potassium. You will always see these listed on the top of the nutrient content labels when you buy fertilizer. They always appear in the same order N-P-K like this 5-7-4. Nitrogen is the key element needed for producing healthy leaves and new growth. Phosphorus is essential for developing healthy stems, blossoms, and fruit. Potassium is essential for strong roots. There are thirteen other trace elements that are essential to a healthy fertile soil and strong plant growth:
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Sulfur
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Boron
- Manganese
- Iron
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Zinc
- Chlorine
All of these elements with the exception of molybdenum are also essential building blocks for healthy human and animal growth. If any of these nutrients and trace minerals are unbalanced your plants will be week and more susceptible to attack from pests and diseases.
So before you reach for that miracle grow and deplete your soil further, put some elbow grease into your garden and improve the tilth of your soil and watch your flowers, fruits, and vegetables put forth a bountiful garden.