Soil is the foundation of all plants that grow in your
garden. Soils are the heart of successful gardening and a bountiful harvest. If
you plan to grow flowers vegetables, herbs or any plant for that matter in your
garden, you must give sober thought to the quality of your garden's soil.
Fertile soil leads to an abundant harvest yet gardening enthusiasts tend to
neglect this important component.
If you plant crops in your garden without a good foundation,
that is, healthy soil, you will not see the successful fulfillment of your hard
work. Gardeners should not only focus on using the right gardening equipment along with pest and disease control measures
but should also ensure they thoroughly prepare the soil and be mindful of its
nutritional capacity and content.
Importance of Garden
Soil
If you have spent any time tending a garden, then you know
how fundamentally important your garden soil is. Garden soil is the heart and
life of your garden. Plants will grow well in rich organic soil. Gardeners that
grow flowers, vegetables, fruits and other plants realize that florae mature
well in healthy soil.
Garden soil plays a huge role in the way plants grow because
it provides support and anchors plant root systems. Plants will obtain most of
their essential nutrients from the soil, not from sun or water. Garden soil is
also used as a storehouse for water and necessary food rudiments.
Garden soils also contain microscopic organisms that carry
out vital duties that support your plant’s development. These microorganisms
unlock nutrients for use by plants and they also break down dead plant matter,
returning their nutrients to the earth in a perfectly balanced system. Your
garden soil should, therefore, be healthy, porous and loose to allow for water
absorption and nutrient retention to be transferred to your plants.
Preparing Your Soil
Preparing your garden soil before planting will ensure you
achieve a deep, fertile and loose soil that will aid in the production of a
plentiful crop. Properly fixing the soil requires the use of appropriate gardening equipment as well as a good
dose of patience. A shovel is necessary for turning your soil thoroughly. The
shovel’s harp edge is good for breaking dense earth into finer particles and for
cutting through tree feeder roots. While processing your soil, be sure to
remove any lose stones, weeds and roots you come across.
Once your soil is completely turned, you are ready to add a
healthy layer of organic matter in the form of animal waste or rich compost to augment
nutrients in the base layer. These organic materials are gifts for the garden, as they will add richness and conditioning to
your soil; ensuring the health of your fruits, vegetables and herbs. Be sure to
turn and mix the organic matter into your soil using lightweight, ergonomic gardening tools.
Garden soil is unarguably the most important element for
plant growth. Before planting, gardeners should ensure they prepare their soil suitably
so as to enhance soil structure. Follow these tips to improve the overall
quality of your soil and watch as your plants in turn yield superb crops this
growing season.