Fertile soil is the base of every garden, and gardeners need to improve the quality of soil from time to time. The nutrient content and moisture-retaining capacity get deteriorated with time. It becomes essential for gardeners to add compost, organic matter, and other materials to improve the water retention, aeration, and fertility of the soil.
Add Compost
The best you can do to improve the quality of your soil is to add organic matter to it. Compost is the best material that adds organic matter to the soil. Organic composts comprise plenty of organic matter and nutrient content for the plants. Autumn is the best season to add organic material to the soil as there are plenty of dry leaves and garden debris available.
However, the autumn season lasts for only a few weeks. If you want to add organic matter in any season, you can make compost using garden waste and kitchen waste like fruit and vegetable peels. Moreover, organic compost is readily available in rural areas and also in landscaping supply stores.
Apply a layer of mulch
Although mulches are available in organic and inorganic types, you should use organic types if your goal is to improve the soil quality in your garden. Mulch creates a layer of insulation between the soil and environment that enables the roots to breathe and absorb water. A layer of organic mulch not only adds Deltona garden and tree specialist to the soil but also retains the moisture in the soil for prolonged periods.
Organic mulch is made of organic materials that decompose steadily and add nutrients to the soil. Moreover, it protects the roots from extreme temperatures by creating a layer of insulation between the soil and the external environment.
Don’t forget the nitrogen.
Nitrogen holds a special place among all the plant nutrients. The soil continues to recycle other nutrients, but nitrogen is not retained by the soil. Gardeners and landscape owners need to add it again and again as it is responsible for the greenery and leaf development in plants. Not only is nitrogen essential for the plants, but it also feeds the organisms present in the soil.
Use any nitrogen-containing fertilizers in your soil before planting every season. Nitrogen fertilizers are easily available in landscaping stores.
Recycle Perennials
If you have a deserted garden, hedges, wood, or fruit trees, you have a multitude of materials to modify the soil. Pruning of trees, hedge trimmers, and perennial cuttings in the winter and early spring can nourish the soil when it is recycled in the garden.
Stung garden debris and chopped pieces of trees makes effective mulch or you can check Splitz Firewood & Mulch for organic dyed and natural mulch. When green, they provide a valuable nitrogen source in the form of a sheet nitrogen layer. Use soft perennial cuttings as a mulch, sheet mulch, or garden bed amendment.
Plant some cover crops
Cover crops can improve your garden soil to a much extent. They can add organic matter to the soil improving its nutrient content, aeration, and drainage capacity. They also attract beneficial organisms to the soil that improves its fertility for plant growth. While you can grow cover crops in rotation with other crops any time of the year, they are usually sown at the end of summer or at the beginning of the winter season.
Improve Soil tilth
Tilth is the physical condition of the soil which means how suitable it is for the growth of plants. Garden soil with good tilth is adequately aerated and well-drained yet retains enough moisture for plants all day. If you have clay soil, add some sand to improve its aeration. On the other hand, if you have sandy soil that dries too quickly in summer, you can improve its moisture retention by adding coco peat or compost.
Final Words
These were some tips for improving your garden soil quality. You can add organic compost and mulch to improve the nutrient content of the soil. Also, take care of the texture, aeration, and water retention capacity of the soil. If your soil is deficient in a specific mineral (nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus), you can add a relevant fertilizer to boost that mineral in the soil. Following the tips in this post can help homeowners to enhance the quality of their soil.
