Soil is a living material that contains many different organisms. It is made up of mineral particles, which are tiny pieces of rock. Gardening soils have three main functions: they provide nutrients, hold water and air, and act as a filter or barrier to protect plants from harmful substances in the environment. The type of gardening soil preparation you use will depend on your gardening goals and the soil already on the space available for gardening.
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Types of Gardening Soil
There are three main types of gardening soil: clay, sand, and loam.
Clay Soil
The best gardening soils are somewhere between sandy or silty in texture with a mix of organic matter for nutrients to feed the plants’ roots throughout their life cycles. Clay is difficult to plant with because its water retention capabilities mean that plants can easily get waterlogged and suffocate. There is also the risk of soil compaction with clay soils, which will impede root growth and stunt plant development.
That said, if you have heavy clay soil on your property, there are some things you can do to make gardening possible. You’ll want to start by amending the soil with organic matter like compost or dried leaves, which will help it maintain the structure necessary to support gardening.
Clay soil can also be improved with peat moss, vermiculite, or expanded shale, all of which are lightweight and have optimal water retention capabilities for gardening purposes.
Sandy Soil
While sand is often seen as a deterrent in gardening because it doesn’t hold onto water, it’s a perfect gardening soil as long as you add plenty of organic matter to the sand.
Compost is an excellent way to condition your sandy soils because it improves their texture and nutrient content, which plants need for healthy growth. For those with limited access to compost, leaf mold will also work in a pinch because it’s a great soil builder.
Loamy Soil
The best gardening soils are loamy because they hold water well while still draining excess moisture, which means your plants will never get too much or not enough of what it needs to grow and stay healthy. Loamy sand has the ideal balance between sand, clay, and silt content, which is why it’s often used as the soil of choice for gardening.
Silty Soil
Silty gardening soils are very similar to loamy soil because they hold onto water and drain well. However, their texture is more grainy than sandy or clay soils which can make them difficult for plants to take up nutrients from the ground through their root systems.
Soil Preparation for A Garden
Before you can plant a garden, you need to prepare the soil. This means loosening the surface so that air and water can penetrate the surface and removing any rocks or debris. You can use a gardening fork for this task, turning over the soil like you would turn over a pancake. If your soil is very compacted, you may need to use a rototiller to break it up. Once the soil is prepared, you can add organic matter such as compost or manure to improve its structure and fertility.
Finally, test the pH of your soil and adjust accordingly. Most vegetables prefer a slightly acidic pH (between about six and seven), but some plants like blueberries need a more alkaline soil (pH of seven or more). You can use a pH test kit from your local garden center to measure the pH of your soil.
Some Thoughts on Fertilizers
Some gardeners use inorganic fertilizers such as NPK to further improve soil fertility. While this is a great option, especially for arid soil, most gardeners today understandably shy away from inorganic fertilizers in a bid to be more conscious of the environment. In most cases, organic fertilizers such as manure or compost are all you need to improve the fertility of your soil.
Organic fertilizers may affect soil organisms, so if you use these products be sure to rotate crops and plant a cover crop between seasons. If gardening in an urban setting or on your rooftop, using organic compost is the best option as it will place less stress on local septic systems. In general, gardening with native soils does not require much fertilization. However, gardening on poor soils requires specially adapted plants, as well as additional fertilization and irrigation as required.
Tools Needed To Prepare a Garden for Winter
Here are a few of the more common tools you might need to properly prepare your garden for the winter as well as their uses. Most of these tools are good for tasks all through the year, so it might be handy to have them around whether or not you have really cold winters where you live.
- Shovel: A shovel is essential for moving soil, planting trees and shrubs, and digging trenches. Look for a shovel with a sturdy handle and a sharpened blade. For the winter, you might also want to get a shovel with a pointed end for breaking through ice. When preparing the gardening soil, shovels come in handy because you can use them to mix soil without compacting it too much, making gardening easier.
- Wheelbarrow: Wheelbarrows are essential for gardening on sloped land or anywhere where you have to haul heavy loads of gardening soil around. Look for a wheelbarrow that has sturdy handles and is made from rust-resistant metal. If your winters are cold, you might also want to get a wheelbarrow with pneumatic tires that will not freeze up in the cold.
- Pitchfork: A pitchfork is great for aerating the soil, turning compost, and moving hay or straw. It has four tines (or prongs) that curve upward which makes it easy to grab onto gardening soil and lift it. When preparing gardening soil for planting, pitchforks are essential for mixing in organic fertilizers and soil amendments. You can also use them to turn compost piles, hay mulch, or straw bales into gardening soil.
- Spade: A spade is similar to a shovel but has a narrower blade that makes it good for cutting through sod or turning over gardening soil. You can also use it for making furrows when you are planting seeds. As with shovels, spades come in handy when preparing gardening soil because they help to keep it loose and easy to work with.
- Fork: A gardening fork has four tines (or prongs) that look like a pitchfork but they are usually spaced further apart. This makes them good for turning garden soil, mixing compost or manure into the soil, and breaking up clumps of grass or dirt.
- Hoe: A gardening hoe is good for breaking up soil clumps, cutting through weeds or grass that are growing between rows of vegetables, and turning over the top layer of gardening soil to prevent it from crusting over too quickly. It can also be used as a cultivator by inserting it into the ground at an angle and making a few quick pushes forward. Some people also use a certain type of hoe to create the soil furrows before planting.
- Rake: A rake is used to smooth out the gardening soil after it has been turned with a shovel or spade, break up clumps of grass or dirt when preparing new garden beds, and clear away leaves in autumn so they don’t compost too thickly on top of your fresh gardening soil over winter.
- Trowel: A gardening trowel is great for digging small holes when transplanting seedlings, moving small plants around the garden to safer locations where they won’t be eaten by animals or insects, and dividing up congested perennials in autumn.
Once the soil is ready, you’re ready to plant! Be sure to follow the gardening instructions that come with your plants for spacing and planting depth. And remember to water regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest from your garden this summer!
