Gardening: Advice for Improving Bad Soil

Good soil is a must if gardening is going to be successful. In order to improve bad soil, a gardener must engage in a number of activities. Without carefully examining your soil and following the procedure necessary to improve it, you will most likely produce a failed crop. The best gardens possess soil that is full of vital nutrients needed for growing healthy flowers and vegetables.

The first thing a gardener needs to do is to examine the soil. Good soil boils down to three conditions: high Ph level, fertility and moisture. Therefore, soil needs to be collected and tested for these conditions. Soil that meets these conditions is ready to provide a high yield. Soil that does not meet such conditions will have to be treated with a number of things, including fertilizer and cultivation. This should be done as early as possible, especially after the ground is no longer vulnerable to frost and freeze.

A gardener may have three types of bad soil, including clay soil, sandy soil and rocky soil. Although clay soil possess a great amount of nutrient content, it is difficult to water. To improve clay soil, a gardener can cultivate it and add a clay breaker called gypsum.Sandysoil has low nutrient content but high drainage qualities. To improve sandy clay, a gardener can add organic matter. Rocky soil can be improved by either importing soil and laying it upon top of existing soil or laying down other organic material, including compost and lawn clippings.

In order to improve the fertility of the soil, a gardener needs to continue to add compost and manure on a yearly basis. When these two materials decompose, they will release the necessary nutrients to maintain healthy fertility. In addition, to supplement the plant’s nutrients requirements, add fertilizer along with the other materials. Follow the directions for fertilization that are suggested on the product package.

To maintain good soil over the winter, a gardener must refrain from several activities. He must not walk over the soil or allow heavy equipment to compact it. Drenching the soil with a hose-on clay breaker is a good idea. A gardener can also add layers of organic matter to the surface, protecting the soil from erosion. Also, to minimize the soil from drying out, a drainage system can be installed.

Warning

Improving bad soil can be tiresome, requiring heaving digging and lifting of soil. If you have medical condition, such as a back problem or a heart problem, you should see a doctor before attempting to improve our garden soil by yourself. You may have to request the assistance of a friend or a local handy man in your town or neighborhood.

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