Improving the Soil

Tips to help build youe soil to a quality your plants will thrive in.

  • Topics: Fertilizing, Soil
  • Author: By Mary Ann Walz
  • Keywords: Soil,compost,Ph,fertility,amendments, Design Tip #4 – Improving the Soil, Design Tip #4 – Improving the Soil, Garden Design, gardens
  • Date: April 2005

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Soil Preparation

One characteristic of Xeriscape plants is that they like soil that has good drainage. To be really successful with your landscape it is often necessary to improve the soil.

Soil Structure

This refers to the amount of sand, clay and loam in your soil. Clay soil drains poorly while sandy soil drains too quickly. The addition of organic matter helps improve both clay and sandy soils.

Soil pH

pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14 with 7 being a fairly neutral soil. Productive soils have a typical range of 5 to 8. Soils with a pH above 8 are very alkaline and below 5 very acidic. Most plants prefer a fairly neutral soil while others prefer a soil that is acidic or alkaline.

Soil Fertility

Basic soil fertility is measured in available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Another component of soil fertility is mineral content. Soils may have adequate minerals but they are sometimes not in a form available to the plants. You may need to add to your soil. Planters II is a good organic fertilizer supplying trace minerals.

Soil Amendments

The most important additive is compost. Compost will help improve the structure of your soil whether it’s too heavy with clay or too sandy. Other amendments that may be needed include a good organic fertilizer such as Yum Yum Mix. Do not use chemical fertilizers because they do not improve your soil.