Do You Know the Secret to Gardening Success?

Answer: It's not your green thumb!

You can’t build a house without a good foundation.  Well the same thing holds true for garden beds.  You shouldn’t expect flowers and vegetables to thrive and flourish without good soil.  The soil is the foundation of your gardening success.  It is well-worth the effort to spend the time and a little money to prepare the soil.  The first step is to test the soil.

Soil Preparation is Key

Plants need food for healthy growth – nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (N, P, K for short).  Nitrogen is responsible for producing leaf growth and green leaves.  Growing plants need phorphorus.  Potash strengthens the plant.  Plants also need the proper pH level which controls how well the plants utilize the nutrients available in your soil.  There is no way to tell what nutrients are missing in your soil by just looking at it.  Soil should be tested periodically and is recommended in the spring and again in the fall.  You can do this in a couple of ways.  You can go to the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Laboratory website.  Information on how to submit a soil sample is available online.  There is a cost for this test and usually takes about two weeks.  Or, you can go to your local garden center and buy a soil test kit.  They range in price from $6-7 (one-time test kit) to $20 (multiple tests). 

Test for pH and nutrients

Either way, once you have the results, take the information back to the garden center and ask for the right product.  More is not better.  Too much of any one nutrient can actually harm plants.  By buying only what’s required, you will save money.  The same goes for fertilizers…less is more.  You can always add a second application of fertilizer but it’s difficult to undo the damage of too much.  Always follow the directions. 

Add compost, well-rotted manure, or peat moss into the soil.  All should be available at your garden center.  Organic matter improves drainage in clay soil and the water-holding capacity in sandy soils.  Till it into your garden bed about 9-12″ deep using a shovel, spade fork, or garden tiller.  After fluffing up the soil, turn on the sprinkler for a bit and then let the soil settle for about 24 hours before planting.

Using a garden tiller makes the job go faster

 Soil preparation takes a little time but the dividends will be big.  However, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea.  If you would like some help, contact us.  We have a crew just waiting to get their hands dirty!