A Discourse on Dirt Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-503 -- More Projects » Too often people think of soil as nothing more than a foundation for plants, a substance whose sole purpose is to provide plants with some means of support. Paul James explains that soil is much more than that, and his approach to gardening is based on a combination of methods aimed at feeding not only the plants but also the soil. He provides the following background information and tips on soil: - The amount of life in one teaspoon of soil is amazingly difficult to grasp. For starters, there are a few dormant weed seeds, hundreds of microscopic worms and literally thousands of fungal spores. Add to that millions of miniature insects (mostly mites) and five billion or so bacteria--about as many as there are people on the planet. It is this collection of living things that makes the soil itself a living organism. It's still dirt, but it's far from dead.
- Although you can't see all the activity taking place in this microscopic world--at least not without a microscope--all those organisms are working frantically to make soil more hospitable for plants. They are busy producing the glue that holds soils together, creating tiny tunnels that allow oxygen and water to penetrate deep into the soil and converting nutrients into forms that plant roots can absorb.
Tips for Better Soil
- The health of plants is directly related to the health of the soil. Before spending money on plants, take the time to improve your soil. For soil that is sandy, rocky or full of clay, routinely add organic matter, which includes just about everything that rots. Some of the more readily available forms of organic matter are grass clippings, hay or straw, leaves, barnyard manure and kitchen scraps. When these are combined and allowed to decompose, they form a special blend of organic matter called compost.
- Compost improves the soil's structure, texture and drainage. It reduces the number of pest and disease problems and provides plants with all kinds of essential nutrients. When various forms of organic matter are combined and allowed to decompose, the finished product is something almost magical, and it can't be recreated in a laboratory. No store-bought compost can hold a candle to what can be produced at home, says James.
- Compost doesn't take the place of fertilizer, but it could reduce the amount of fertilizer plants need by as much as 50 percent. It provides plants with micronutrients most fertilizers don't supply, such as zinc, boron, calcium and other nutrients. Compost should be applied at least once a year to anything that grows, although it's good to apply it several times a year, especially during the growing season.
- Compost is an excellent top dressing or mulch for vegetable and flower gardens and should be applied at least twice during the growing season. Spread a one- or two-inch layer on top of the soil and tuck it around the base of plants. During the winter apply more compost--up to six inches--and turn it into the top six inches of soil with a pitchfork. After planting seeds, cover them with a thin layer of compost. Also, toss some compost around the base of trees--young trees especially--just as they begin to break dormancy. Compost is also good to mix in potting mixes for container plants: just blend it with a soilless potting mix in equal parts. Use compost on the lawn, tossing by the shovelful as evenly as possible in late winter or early spring.
- To keep soil healthy, avoid disturbing it as much as possible. Each time soil is turned or tilled, the natural state is altered, and many of the organisms that keep soil healthy are destroyed. Also, try not to walk on garden beds: compaction is one of the true enemies of soil.
- Finally, limit the use of chemicals because many of them destroy beneficial soil organisms, including earthworms.
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