Make Sure Your Soil is Prepared

What gardener does not want a beautiful, healthy, and productive home garden? In order to achieve this goal, it is essential for a gardener to be aware of the overall health of the plants for the garden. Although the health of the plants is very important, there is another crucial aspect of gardening that should be seriously considered: the health of the soil.


Understand Your Soil
Soil is made up of a variety of essential chemicals that are vital to the health of a garden. You may have sketched out a design for your garden, but did you include what you know about the soil? Soil components can vary from plot to plot. This means that it is vital for a gardener to be familiar with the chemical make-up of the soil in which the garden will be planted. When you ‘get to know’ you soil before planting herbs, vegetables, flowers, or even a lawn – you will be fully aware of any potential problems. These problems can be addressed and rectified before the planting process even begins.

It is helpful to attain or perform an analysis on the soil you are preparing for your home garden. When you analyze the soil, you will be able to determine its components and/or deficiencies. A great deal of essential information can be accessed with just a small soil sample. Some gardeners are so experienced that they can identify soil components by the feel – or even the look – of a soil sample. They may also be able to visually determine whether or not the soil has deficiencies. However, if you have one nearby, you may want to have your soil sample analyzed by an agricultural lab. A lab can give you a more complete analysis and report on the health of your soil.

Start Early
Since a complete soil analysis can take several weeks, be sure to start early. Go ahead and gather up soil samples from the plot of land you intend to use. If you already have in mind the plants you will incorporate into your garden, then start planning before the planting season begins. Have your soil tested and prepped 1-3 months before the planting season has arrived.