Soil is the most vital component in all your gardening activities. It's therefore important to know the condition of your soil before venturing into home gardening. If your soil is healthy, you'll produce quality vegetables and fruits, and mostly likely you'll become successful in growing organic fruits and vegetables.
The quality of your soil depends on the available nutrients it provides based on the stand of your crops grown in the garden. If your plants are healthy, it goes to show that your soil is healthy. There's a symbiotic relationship between a good soil and the vigorous plants that grows within.
I have identified some ways to make your soil healthy for your guidance.
1. Use natural organic fertilizer. All forms of natural organic soil fertilizers are good for the soil. There's no side effect with organic fertilizer as against synthetic fertilizer which affects your soil to become acidic when continuously used to your plants. There are lots of natural organic fertilizer that you can use as soil enhancer like; fish and seaweed fertilizers, compost, animal manures, and vermi-compost ( derived from worm composting).
2. Analyze your soil. Have your soil tested to know the available elements present in your soil. Soil sampling is not complicated, but you need the assistance of an expert in soil testing. Seek the advice from your soil laboratory expert in your area to do the work for you. Though you would spend an amount for their services, it's worth the expenses for the information you'll get for the maintenance of your garden to be always in good shape.
3. Keep your garden always well-drained. Don't allow your garden to be water-logged. A well-drained soil is ideal for easy field operations since it dries up fast easily and doesn't hinder your timely planting. In well-drained soil, the free flow of oxygen is able to reach the root zone to promote optimal root health. Optimal root growth happens best in soils without drainage problem.
4. Avoid working on wet soil. Don't work on your soil when it's wet since it causes compacting the soil down and push out the air and water will not pass through the soil. There will not be enough space for the roots to grow. Compact soil will not give good crop yield and becomes hard to cultivate. Wait until the ground is dry before you start cultivation to make planting easy.
5. Make a raised beds to avoid stepping on the plants. It's essential to make your garden in raised beds to avoid stepping on your plants which may cause the soil be compacted that would affect the plant's growth. When you've your raised beds, there's an alleyway where you can walked through and your plants are safely protected from being destroyed.
Other methods can be applied to make your soil to be always in good shape, but the ones I've identified are enough to get you started to maintain in tip top condition.
Happy gardening!
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