“The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all…the healer and restorer…” observes Wendell Berry, American environmentalist and poet.
As autumn arrives, we look to our gardens and consider what we may need to do to prepare for spring’s glory. And it is the earth, the soil in which our plants grow, that can benefit from our attention now.
I’d like to review how we can improve the soil we rely on:
- The characteristics and types of soil
- The benefits of soil conditioning
- Soil testing: types of tests
- Treatment options for our tired soil
- Revisiting the fallen leaves option
We need not be master gardeners or horticulturists to look after the health of the soil we rely on in our gardens. We dig in it, plant in it, and enjoy the bounty of it.
Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter, and micro-organisms: Mineral content can be sand, silt, or clay in differing ratios (seldom is earth completely one type of mineral But your garden’s earth may have one type predominating). The organic matter may include decomposing plants and animals, which eventually break down completely becoming humus. Micro-organisms are the earthworms, bacteria, and fungi that help loosen soil and maintain aeration
Keeping track of our soil’s health includes: Testing the soil make-up regularly. Adding organic matter regularly. Deep but infrequent watering to encourage strong root-systems
Signs of problems in your soil: Yellow leaves. Poor or slow growth. Root balls that are too small and/or too frail (as you dig among your plants you can see the condition of their roots. You’re looking “under the hood”
My experience has been that our garden’s soil almost always can use some attention. Consider the benefits of conditioning: Encourage roots and plant growth by aerating, improving drainage, and increasing moisture retention. Plants need nutrients too, and we can improve the availability of nutrients. Balancing the pH levels in the earth keeps the root systems happy
Now, perhaps you’re wondering how to figure out what your soil is lacking. You may want to make testing part of your seasonal “to-do” list. Here are the basic types of soil tests:
Nutrient: measuring oxygen, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium sulfur. pH: measures acidity and alkaline levels. Texture: the “Squeeze Test,” identifies sandy, silt, or clay soil. DIY Kit: purchased at your favorite garden center. Professional Testing: done by your county agriculture extension office
There are four basic types of conditioners we can use to improve the soil in our gardens:
Compost: rich, organic material (I’m coming back to this later, specifically using fallen leaves). Peat Moss: great for water absorption and retention. Since peat moss is slightly acidic, it’s useful for lowering alkaline soil pH. Gypsum: inorganic material that reduces compaction and neutralizes soil acidity. This is particularly helpful for soil that is predominantly clay. Lyme: raises the pH level and adds nutrients to the soil
We’re all familiar with those simple methods for conditioning our soil. But let me just review:
Add Sulphur to improve the pH level to an optimum level of 6.0–7.0 for most gardens. Apply Mulch to a depth of 2–4 inches if you’re trying to improve water retention and provide organic matter. Aerate the soil by poking holes with a garden fork or roller-tool designed for the purpose of aeration. Add bone meal, blood meal, and/or fish emulsion if organic matter is needed. Choose a commercial product and carefully follow the application directions to avoid damaging the plants or root systems
Finally, let me make my case for fallen leaves as organic mulch. Don’t rake those leaves into bags or bins! Add to the leaves your veggie scraps and grass clippings, and you’ll have a super mulch. Rake that onto your flower beds and under your trees. Your garden will thank you! (and so will she or he who is responsible for raking.)
The usefulness of crumbled, rotting leaves are numerous:
- They’ll serve as a warm coverlet over your tender roots during the cold, winter months
- The leaves will retain moisture, and aid against parched, cold weather
- The piles of leaves are wildlife friendly. Worms, bugs, and other garden critters will be delighted to burrow down into the leaf-mulch as protection from the cold
- Avoids the wasteful bags and bins of leaves collected, adding to our gardens’ sustainability
Hang up that rake! If you have a mulching-mower, fire it up! (Mulching the fallen leaves will help them decompose quickly and make it easier for you to evenly distribute the chopped-up leaves.)
Now, sit back and watch the brilliant display of oak and maple leaves as they fall. You’ll put them to good use with a few easy hours of mulching or raking them onto your flower beds and under the trees.
The soil you work to strengthen now will awake in the spring ready to feed your plants and their roots…and dazzle you!
