It is
necessary to ensure that your plants receive adequate amounts of light and
water in order to help them thrive and look their best. Soil is one of the most
important ingredients that is often overlooked. Soil requires some type of
amendment in most cases in order to provide the ideal conditions for growth.
With a
little help from Simpsonville’s Curb Appeal Lawn Care, you can learn how to
amend soil and give your plants everything they need. Our services include
mowing, weedeating, edging and blowing; hedge trimming; mulch and pine needles;
aerating and seeding; landscaping Simpsonville and more.
Here are a
few tips to help your landscape look its best all year round which will add
value to your property and lifestyle:
First and
foremost, you need to understand the significance of soil analysis.
Professional soil testing should be your first step which can help you determine
the exact composition and nutrient levels in your soil. After identifying the
deficiencies, you can create a plan to amend the soil to suit your needs based
on:
1. pH Levels- It is measured on a scale between
1.0 and 14.0, with the median ranking of 7.0 being a neutral pH level. Plants
tend to prefer levels that range between 6.0 and 7.5. Numbers that are
increasingly higherthan 7.0 indicate higher alkalinity, it is preferred by
ferns and geraniums, which means the lower the number, the more acidic the
soil- usually preferred by blueberries and azaleas.
2. Texture- Your soil may be mixed with sand,
clay, limestone or manufactured dirt which depends on particular geographic
location. Soil that is too sandy or too dense can cause hindrance to water
absorption and drainage. What is considered ideal texture of soil is it should
be light enough to allow the passage of water and air, with enough density to
provide adequate moisture and nutrients to your plants.
3. Nutrients-Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and
Potassium (K) are the three key nutrients needed by all plants. The good thing
is these are found in most fertilizers.
Soil
Amendment Tips:
Take
appropriate steps toward improving the quality of your soil after you are done
with the analysis. The following information can help you to succeed regardless
of whether you need soil amendment tips for vegetable gardening or ways to
amend clay soil:
Regulate
the pH Level- You
can adjust the pH level by adding elemental sulfur or coffee grounds to soil
that is too alkaline and adding lime, wood ash, or poultry manure to soil
that’s too acidic. Be careful and add no more than five pounds of lime or
sulfur for every 100 square feet of space.
Add
Nutrients- If your
soil is lacking the essential nutrients, adding organic or inorganic fertilizer
can be of help. Adding the right commercial fertilizer can produce fast
results. The only drawback is the cost and the negative effects it can have on
your plants and soil which can be long term. Go for organic materials like
compost, lawn clippings, peat moss, etc. which are much safer alternative and
beneficial for environment.
Improve
the Soil Texture-
When it comes to amending clay soil for grass, peat moss is a great addition
that is both inexpensive and highly effective. Use compost to enrich sandy
soil, it will also add the much-needed structure and stability.
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