Garden Lover's Paradise: Soil Preparation for Organic Gardening

To practice organic gardening methods it is important to start with the soil. It is possible to make your garden rich in nutrients by simply added organic compounds. These are all natural and will not harm the environment in any way.

Testing your soil

You can have an analysis done for your garden soil by your local agricultural department. They will recommend what your soil needs and also tell you if your soil is too acid or alkaline. Plants like a neutral or slightly acidic soil. To make your soil slightly acid you can add leaf mould. If your soil is too acid, you can add some lime.

Plants need nutrients in order to grow. The three main requirements are: potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.

There are four different organic fertilizers

1. Rock fertilizers

Examples of these are potassium sulphate (potassium), lime, green sand. You can put these rock fertilizers on the ground in autumn and the ground will be ready for your spring planting. These you only have to apply every 1 to 2 years. They are slow releasing and will keep on fertilizing your plants naturally and gently.

2. Animal fertilizers

Manure (nitrogen and other nutrients), blood meal (nitrogen) and bone meal (phosphorus). Be careful not to use fresh manure on your plants as it can burn them. A good way to solve this problem is to apply manure to your garden in autumn and let it over winter. By the time you are ready to plant in spring the manure will have matured and aged so that it will not harm your plants.

3. Made ups of decomposed material

There are many examples of these. The common examples are: compost, leaf mould, grass clippings and shredded leaves. They give a good overall blend of nutrients that plants need. They can be spread over the ground in autumn or in spring, before you plant.

4. Cover crops

These include clover, soybeans, buckwheat and alpha. These crops will add nitrogen to the soil and buckwheat will add phosphorus. These crops are ploughed in to the soil when you are ready to plant. They improve the tilth of the soil and also add nutrients as they decay.

These cover crops can be grown in winter in milder areas or in autumn or early spring, depending on the length of the growing season. You can also use these crops like soybeans as rotation crops. One year you can grow these crops in one area and the next year grow some vegetables or flowers in the same area.

Improving your soil

You can use hay mulch and let it rot down over the season. This will improve the tilth or texture of your soil and add nutrients to it. By the time you are ready to plant in springtime you will have rich loam that will give your plants a good start.

Make sure seedbeds are smooth and free from large clods that can prevent seedlings from pushing their way to the surface. Try to remove as many stones from your soil as possible. You can utilize these by making an English rockery.

Three different types of soils

1. Sandy soil

This soil is very light and has excessive drainage. This means that it dries out easily and nutrients will leach out of it quickly. Adding organic matter like rotted down leaves, grass clippings and straw will help to give more substance to this soil. It is wise to shred the leaves before you add them to the soil. Adding compost will also help this type of soil.

2. Clay

Clay is a very heavy type of soil and is the opposite of sand. It can often retain too much moisture and allow less oxygen to the plants, which will result in poor root systems. You can add sand to make it lighter and also organic matter.

3. Loam

This is the ideal soil and is good for all plants.

The next step towards successful organic gardening will be making good organic compost.