Organic Garden Soil Enriching Advice
The backbone of an organic garden is its fertile soil. Soil structure is as important as fertility. And besides the "big three" nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, plants need a variety of minerals and microbial organisms. Just thinking about trying to balance all of these aspects of good soil can seem overwhelming. Organic gardening methods will naturally provide soil enrichment necessary to maintain healthy organic soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Compost for Soil Enrichment
Compost is the main component in healthy organic soil. Compost provides humus, or decomposed vegetable matter, which builds soil texture. Compost added to clay soil will make it more porous, lightening it to a texture that plant roots can penetrate. Add compost to sandy soil, and the additional humus provides stability and water retention properties. This gives plants soil that won't erode and that can retain nutrients. Compost was once living matter, and it contains all the elements and trace minerals that were once part of the living vegetation. Enriching your garden with compost adds these nutrients directly to the soil in a form that is immediately usable by plants.
To enrich your organic garden with compost, spread a layer of compost over the surface of the planting area. Use a layer of compost one to two inches deep, and rake or till it into the top few inches of soil. This recommendation works for a traditional garden plot and also for raised bed gardens. Plant as usual after enriching with compost with no fear of fertilizer burn.
Soil pH and Amendments
Soil sometimes needs to be balanced with other amendments to adjust acidity or alkalinity. This is also called the pH level of the soil. Soil's pH directly affects how nutrients are available to the plants. A pH level of 7.0 is the neutral reading. Below that, soil readings are increasingly acid. A level of 5.5 or lower indicates an acid environment where nutrients become more soluble and leach out of the soil before they can be used by plants. Higher readings above 7.0 may indicate soil where nutrients cannot be properly dissolved so they can be used by the plants. Very light applications of agricultural lime (calcium) will raise the alkalinity of the soil. Garden sulfur products may be added to raise the acidity.
Trace Minerals
Organic fertilizers that contain fish products and sea products such as kelp will add trace minerals to the soil. Trace minerals are difficult to ascertain in garden soil, but when you use organic fertilizers that include trace minerals, you can be sure that they are available if your plants need them.
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