KNOW
YOUR SOIL!
First
off, buying kits for Ph-testing of the soil. These are not always accurate, and
are often affected by such environs as fertilizer, humidity, heat and cold.
JUST
remember, soil no matter what type, can be converted to facilitate ANY plant,
tree or shrub with the right conditioning.
Soil
can be easily placed into four categories.
1 Dry
soil – easy drainage. This is soil such as sandy based, or thin top soil and heavily graveled. Limestone and
certain chalky areas. Making the Ph balance more
alkali.
2 Wet
soil - not easy drainage. Clay topsoil,
thick topsoil that sports a moss or similar. Flood zone areas, or prone to a lot
of rain. Lower valley in particular.
3 High
Nutrient – plenty of good rich loam and top soil. Soil is darker than most, and has a 'leafy' texture. Damp but not sodden with water.
4 Low
Nutrient – this soil tends to be harder for even the weeds to populate. It is often a lot more paler in color. From an orange-red – to even a whitish- gray.
Tends to accompany extremes of dry or wet. New housing often sits on
soils like this.
Another
good way to check the variables in your soil is to identify what kind of plants
(weeds,) are already in growth about your property. Along with the grass
coloration. These are also great indicators to your soil's potential for use.
Not
all soils need boosters of fertilizer, or more soil added.
But
most need some form of stabilizing treatment.
Such as a simple soluble with water to kick start it. Or perhaps a good
tilling.
Dry
soil – May need some mixers. Best
thing to stop it drying out quickly is, to add a load of wood chips and mix it in when you
till it, the second time.* Or an easy method, is to 'bank' it up. By raising it
higher than the non-gardening section of the land. Then add your mixers.
Wet
soil – You need to add a little sand,
to aid in drainage. If you have a clay soil base, which is the most common for
problems with drainage, then add wood chips along with your sand and some
chalk. This works wonders. Also you may need some top soil too. This is due to
it being flooded and nutrients washed away with some areas.
High
Nutrient – Do not do a thing! Perfect
soil! Congratulations! Just be careful! Do not add any unnecessary fertilizer
to the soil. A good tip for the nutrients break up easily to feed your garden,
is to add a tablespoon of Epsom salts per two gallons of water, and lightly,
spray your garden, then till it.
Low
Nutrient – Easy, get your fertilizer
going! Such as cow, horse or chicken manure. Nutrients means nitrate levels.
Compost, rotting leaves, all of this should be tilled in the first time, then
tilled again to ensure equal distribution.
After your soil has been stabilized, then it's time to buy garden plants- Buy Trees, Shrubs & Plants at Garden Delights Nursery.
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