What Can I Do To Make Healthy Garden Soil At Home? Try This!

Nutrient-dense, healthy soil is the key to successful gardening. Soil that is alive with worms and fungi indicates that it is fertile. The soil that is rich in organic matter tends to be darker. There is a crumbly or granular feel to healthy soil. What can I do to make my garden soil fertile?

Improve the structure and texture of your soil by making it more loam-like. Adding organic matter is the best way to make the soil more fertile. You can add compost, green manures, aged animal manures, mulches, or peat moss as organic matter.

Humus is abundant in organic soil. Animal and plant matter decay to produce humus. Earthworms help mix humus with minerals in the soil. Brown, dark, or black soil indicates humus-rich soil. 

Humus contains many helpful nutrients, including nitrogen. Agricultural production depends on nitrogen and other nutrients found in the humus. 

When soil is rich in humus, it becomes loose. The loose soil makes it easier for air and water to pass through. As a result, oxygen can reach the plant’s roots and promote healthy growth. 

Bacteria, algae, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, and other tiny creatures live in healthy soil. Their role in plant health is crucial. Soil bacteria produce natural antibiotics to protect plants from disease. The fungi help plants absorb water and nutrients.

What Should I Add To My Soil Before Planting?

The most effective way to improve your soil is to add organic matter. It can offer solutions to many issues, such as nutrition and drainage. Compost is crucial as it can introduce microorganisms to the soil. These microorganisms decompose organic matter further, improving your soil. 

You can add grass clippings, straw, aged manure, or coffee grounds. They can enhance the soil’s fertility, water retention, and texture. Learn how to use kitchen waste as manure in this video. 

How Do I Make The Best Garden Soil?

Understand your soil’s structure before treating it. Find out whether it is clay, sandy, or loamy. 

Tiny clay particles stick together and form large clumps. Compared to other soil types, clay soil tends to be more fertile. But the texture of clay soil makes it difficult for roots to penetrate. Your plants can enjoy improved clay soil despite the effort involved.

The sandy soil is easy to handle. It has some disadvantages as well. It is a fast-draining soil and is less able to keep nutrients.  

Loam soil is full of organic matter, making it ideal for gardening. Loam is a rich mixture of clay, sand, and humus. It is capable of retaining moisture as well as draining well.

You can conduct your soil test to determine your soil type. You can also ask your county’s cooperative extension office for help. It will be helpful for you to learn if there are any deficiencies or pH issues. They will provide recommendations for improving your soil’s pH.

Why Is Soil Ph So Crucial, And How Can I Adjust It?

The pH (potential of hydrogen) of soil indicates its acidity or alkalinity (basicity). The pH scale ranges from 0 (the most acidic) to 14 (the most alkaline). The value of 7 is neutral on the pH scale. The pH of your soil affects the availability of nutrients to your plants, so knowing it is beneficial.

Even if your land contains nutrients, plants cannot use them if the soil is too acidic or alkaline. Minerals and other nutrients become soluble when your soil has a pH value closer to neutral. This neutrality makes nutrients available to your plants.

Plants thrive in soils with a neutral pH. There are a few exceptions as well. Some plants prefer a slight acidity, while others prefer slight alkalinity. 

The pH range from 6 to 7.5 is acceptable to most plants. pH 6 to 7 is desirable for vegetables since they like a slight acidity. While blueberries prefer acidic soil around 4.5 to 5.5, lavender grows best in alkaline soil around 8. 

Applying more fertilizer won’t make sense when the pH level is too high or too low. For your cultivation to succeed, correct the soil pH first. 

Test the soil pH value before correcting any mismatches between soil and plants. If your soil’s pH value is low, the land is acidic. High pH values show alkaline soils.

To raise your soil’s pH, apply agricultural lime. Lime will reduce the acidity of your soil. Use aluminum sulfate (alum) to lower soil pH. It will reduce the alkalinity of your soil. It’s easier to lower the pH of your soil or make it less alkaline than to raise it. 

Can I Put Compost On Top Of The Soil?

Compost works as a good soil cover that offers many benefits. It prevents moisture from evaporating and prevents weeds from growing. Cover your garden with compost 2-4 inches thick for best results.

If you are using homemade compost that has not yet matured, apply no more than 2 inches at a time. It will prevent the smothering of plants. You will learn more about composting in this video.

There are four different ways to add compost to your soil. You can (1) spread or sprinkle it on top of the soil. (2) Mix it into the existing soil. (3) Blend it with potting soil. (4) Rake it under trees and shrubs. 

How Can I Improve My Soil Further?

To preserve the soil’s natural ecosystem, avoid disrupting it. The ecosystem makes the ground crumbly, nutritious, and healthy. For minimal soil disturbance, till and dig as little as possible.

Mulch the soil surface to conserve moisture and prevent weeds from growing. Mulch adds organic matter to the soil to increase fertility when it decomposes. Watch this video to learn how to make compost.

Compacted and tight soil prevents water and nutrients from soaking in. It will become barren and arid as a result. Plants will dehydrate when they cannot spread their roots for moisture and nutrients. 

Plant legumes like cowpeas, soybeans, or velvet beans to add nitrogen to the soil. Size your garden beds so you can reach all areas without stepping on them. Allow enough space between the beds for a wheelbarrow to pass through.

Prevent soil erosion by developing some strategies. You can create soil ridges, dig ditches, or grow grass on slopes. 

Conclusion:

Treat your soil as a living entity. Learn about the connections between plants, soil, and the creatures living there. Ensure that your crop thrives by protecting that relationship.