Gardening: The Best Methods to Improve
Soil Quality
Whilst everyone loves a well-tended garden, not every lot has the right
soil quality to help plants thrive. For this reason, gardeners have to do
some work to improve the quality of their soil and make their gardens
sustainable for plant growth.
The following summarises all the work needed to improve soil quality:
The case with clay
Autumn is the perfect time to dig this
type of soil whilst it is still dry and
workable. In spring and winter, the soil is
too wet to work with, while it becomes
too dry and hard in the summer.
Clay-rich soil is naturally heavy, but
despite its weight, it can be quite
sensitive. As much as possible, clay must
not be walked on. Some gardeners also tend to overwork clay soil, which is why
the best method is to just plough big lumps of the soil and let the winter frost
break it apart.
Mulch helps clay stay moist and healthy, while sand worsens the condition. Raised
beds result in better drainage and soil health.
The situation with silt
Where many gardeners go wrong is with
silt, as this type of soil runs the risk of
compaction. Annual digging alongside
putting organic matter is essential to
improve its structure. Gardening experts
recommend putting a layer of organic
matter around 5-10 cm over the soil
surface during the spring or the autumn.
Similar with clay, walking on silt is
potentially damaging, especially when the ground is wet.
The scenario with sand
Light sandy soil has particles that do not
bind together. To counter this, it is
necessary to put organic matter. In
effect, not only does the soil hold up
well, it also enjoys better nutrient and
water retention. Mulch around plants
and thick layers of organic matter also
help. The best time to do all this work is
in the autumn.
Put simply, the best way to improve soil quality is to stuff it with a lot of
organic matter. But to ensure the best soil quality possible,
understanding the soil type and knowing how to nurture it is the way to
go.
Resources:
http://www.longacres.co.uk/
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=620
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/module4/improving_your_soil1.shtml