How to Make Your Garden Grow

How to Make Your Garden Grow

An Essential Guide to Selecting the Best Soil for Your Gardening Requirements

Brent Hoffman

Unless practising hydroponics, gardening soil is the base foundation where different plants grow and thrive. Besides offering support, the soil is essential for supplying plants with nutrients that support proper growth and development. However, the health of plants in your garden will depend on the quality of soil present. For this reason, it's imperative to select the ideal soil type for the kind of plants you want to grow in your garden. 

Here's an essential guide to assist you in choosing the best soil for your gardening needs.

Select Soils Depending on Plant Type

You can use different soils in your garden, from clay and sandy to peaty and loamy soils. However, not all of them will suit the plant type you intend to grow because they have different characteristics. 

For instance, if you want to raise vegetables, it's imperative to consider moist and loose soil. This quality allows the roots of your vegetables to thrive better and draw more nutrients from the soil.  

Determine the Soils Aeration

Like animals, plants depend on air for photosynthesis. However, the soil you choose will also hold atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen, two elements that facilitate the survival of micro-organisms that benefit your plants. Generally, the best soils offer the correct amount of spaces between particles to hold air required by plants. 

For example, clay soils have tightly packed particles thus carry less air. On the contrary sandy soils have loosely packed particles, retaining more air. Consider choosing soils with added organic matter that helps balance the air supply. 

Choose Soils as Per Planting Location

When selecting the ideal soil for your garden, consider the location you want to raise your plants. For example, you'll require nutrient-rich soils for plants raised in large pots or patios than those raised in your home garden. 

Ideally, potting mixes have unique elements that help deter under- or over-watering plants. Such soils maintain the balance between being well-drained and moist. On the contrary, planting mixes are meant to improve the soil structure around your new plants and are not meant to act as a replacement for existing soils. Therefore, consider purchasing soils with these qualities and avoid cheaper variants that might not offer ample nutrients for your plants. 

Soil Preparation 

Finally, after narrowing down on the ideal soil according to your gardening needs, you must consider soil preparation. Find out the type of soil you've chosen to ensure you perform any necessary alterations like the addition of organic matter, mulch or fertiliser. Consequently, this allows for a healthy garden that promotes the ideal growth of your preferred plants.

For more information on soil, contact a professional near you.


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About Me
How to Make Your Garden Grow

For many years, I didn't give much thought to my garden. However, all of that changed when I retired from my job working as a lawyer in downtown Sydney. I suddenly discovered that I had a lot of time on my hands. I didn't know what to do with it. After a few weeks, I started to become slightly depressed. My wife could see what was happening and she suggested that I take up gardening so I called up my sister who is an expert with the plants and trees. She came to stay with me and my wife for a couple of weeks and taught me everything she could.