Organic Soil Fixes

Organic soil fixes vary depending on soil composition and what deficiency is present. The one important ingredient to build soil composition for organic garden health is compost.

Soil particles vary in size and texture. These differences are what make one soil different from another and influences which organic soil fixes are needed. Different substances are needed to optimize the health of individual soil types.

Clay is dense and composed of very tiny soil particles that become sticky when wet. In the heat of summer, when things are dry, these particles dry and become extremely hard. This is because clay is primarily composed of minerals and a small quantity of organic matter. These tiny particles are very close together, creating a non-porous quality. Clay makes it hard for water to drain, and creates an unfriendly environment for plant roots because it's difficult for air to circulate.

When searching for organic soil fixes for you clay soil, your goals should be to increase the nutrients available to your plants and to loosen the soil texture. Improving the texture allows plant roots to:

• Breathe
• Absorb nutrients
• Grow.

To fix your clay soil you must improve drainage, make it easier to till, and create better overall soil quality. Mix organic compost into your soil and double-dig your garden beds. Fine soils like clay benefit from the addition of compost because it increases porosity, makes the soil resistant to erosion and as an added benefit, makes it easier to work.

How to Double Dig:

1. Dig a trench about nine or ten inches deep.
2. Place the soil you remove into a wheelbarrow.
3. Work the soil at the trench bottom to further loosen it (about another nine to ten inches).
4. Add compost and soil amendments mixing them into the subsoil with spading fork.
5. Dig your next trench (parallel to the first one).
6. Repeat steps two and three.
7. Take topsoil from your second trench, add organic matter to it, and then use it to fill trench number one. (The soil in the wheelbarrow will be used to fill the last trench.)
8. Continue this process until you've amended and enriched the clay soil for the entire garden.
9. Add organic matter to the soil in the wheelbarrow and use it to fill the last trench.

Let your newly fluffed garden bed settle for at least two days before adding plants. Don't walk on it or you'll negate all your hard work.

Sandy soil needs help also. Unlike clay, sandy soil doesn't have a problem with standing water. Its inability to retain moisture and sufficient nutrients requires the addition of plenty of organic matter. Sandy soil is loose, which makes erosion a problem. Adding organic matter helps improve the structure of these soils.

Adding fertilizer is not the answer to improving the condition and structure of your sandy soil. In fact, studies show that when you add large amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) that it works against you, diminishing organic material in soils.

You don't want to do that. Build your soil structure with the addition of organic matter like humus, and additives like soluble calcium and iron. The organic fix for sandy soil is also compost. By adding compost to your soil, the soil's ability to hold water is increased.

Not everyone understands that the real focus of organic gardening is not on the plants but on soil health. It's about learning to feed the soil. This is accomplished not just by adding compost or humus to the soil but also by growing and alternating a varied selection of plants. It is important to have your soil tested before you plant your first seeds or seedlings.

Soil pH is used to determine alkalinity or acidity of soil. pH affects not only the availability of soil nutrients but influences what life forms live there. Some prefer an alkaline environment while others prefer acidic soil. These include things like:

• Earthworms
• Bacteria
• Algae
• Fungi
• Protozoa

Healthy soil promotes life. All the life forms listed here need organic matter to live and thrive. When you increase the organic matter in your soil, earthworm population will go up expeditiously. This, in turn, not only raises the nutrient levels in your soil but also increases water penetration and aeration. Don't guess at your pH levels, have your soil tested. You're garden's health depends on it.

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