Playing in the Dirt

If you want to maintain a beautiful garden then it is important to understand the various types of soils that are used in order to do so. Soil happens to be a fundamental part of keeping your plants healthy. With healthy soil, you are sure to have healthy plants. The other advantage for having food soil is that you won’t have to fertilize it or use as much pesticide. There are four major components that should be considered for your soil: mineral material, air, water, and organic material. The mineral parts would include sand, clay and silt. However, the ratio of these will vary depending on your location. Also, how the soil is amended will also depend on type of soil.
 
Adding organic matter into clay soil helps to produce better drainage and will help tender roots get into the soil. When you are not certain about the type of soil to use, dig a hole and fill it up with water. Then watch to see just how long it takes the water to drain. If the clay is solid this would be just like having a bowl of water. On the other hand, if the clay is sandy it will drain faster. Even though clay is hard, it is also rich in minerals and has plenty of useful nutrients. When ground pine bark, composted leaves, sawdust or organic material are added to the soil it will grow better.
 
Believe it or not, worms are great for helping the soil. When compost is added to a whole, worms will eventually burrow through it so that they can carry food. During the process, they help to improve the structure of the soil. This is because along the way they are depositing worm manure with is powerful. When you add soil, it is as though you are actually feeding the worms. If you are interested in planting a vegetable garden or a flower bed, you will have to work the soil in and add organic material. This is primarily important to those who have a yard where it is lifeless and is unfit to grow things.
 
Many know that manure holds moisture, but they don’t consider how it also helps their soil. The manure also helps fed worms. The same worms that help improve the condition of your soil. You can apply something as simple as chicken litter to produce the results that you want from you soil. If you are unable to find this then you could also use dehydrated black cow manure, double ground bark, composted leaves or mushroom compost.
 
Keep in mind that soil has to be rich in humus, which is what you’ll discover when there is decaying materials like grass clippings, compost or leaves. It is able to retain moisture and will drain well. This is exactly what you want for your garden or your flowerbed. So if you’ve ever wanted to play in the dirt, why not start with your soil.