The natural environment and sustainability are an important topic for the future of our planet

It Takes Good Top Soil To Grow A Great Garden

It Takes Good Top Soil To Grow A Great Garden

Good Top Soil Takes effort. If you are under the impression that dirt is dirt, you are mistaken.  This is especially true if you are planning on growing a garden.

Types of TopSoil

Having fertile, healthy soil is going to make a big difference in your garden.  There is a balance that needs to be reached.  If it’s  too sandy it will drain well, but it will also dry out very quickly.  This will cause plants to wilt.

If you have topsoil that is clay rich it will hold the water very well.  Unfortunately that is all it will do is hold the water, there is little drainage.  This will cause your plants to become waterlogged and will not grow well.

Sandy Loam

The ideal type to have is a sandy loam.  This will hold the water so that the plants will stay hydrated and allow for proper drainage.

How to Tell The different Types of Soil

Sometimes by simply looking at your topsoil  you can tell what type  you have.

If you are not sure scoop up a hand full and squeeze it in your fist very tightly.  Watch the topsoil as you open your hand again.  If it maintains its compact form, you likely have claysoil.  If at the other extreme it crumbles and falls through your fingers quickly you have sandy soil.

The ideal scenario is for the soil to hold its shape for a minute and slowly crumble into moist large chunks, chunks that will break apart easily.  If you are fortunate to have this type of soil you have sandy loam soil.

If you are not lucky enough to have sandy loam topsoil you can amend your soil so that you do.  The extreme method of getting the ideal topsoil is to have the old topsoil dug up and hauled away.  Then you could replace it with good top soil.  You would likely be able to find someone to deliver a truck load or two.

You really don’t need to replace your topsoil.  The goal is to get  to where your plants are thriving.  Adding organic material  is beneficial. Organic material can be easily added to your garden. This has the added benefit of increasing the soil microbes that are in the topsoil.

As is adding biofertilizers. Biofertilizers are soil microbes that have been specifically selected because of thier ability to help your plants grow bigger and healthier.

The condition of your topsoil will determine the outcome of your garden.

 

Photo by Rob Oo

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