Choosing The Right Topsoil for Your Gardening Needs
Topsoil is a necessity for plant growth and photosynthesis to occur. While it is true that naturally occurring topsoil erodes quickly, it is possible for man to take components and make a substitute close to the original. Regarding the different type of topsoil, there are three primary ones occurring in nature. Those are sand, loam, and clay. Give each the finger test to determine classification. What this means is that if the substance slides easily between your fingers, it is most likely sand. This occurs because the material is very porous. Clay is the opposite, holding together well and retaining moisture (almost a little too well). The ideal soil type for farming and forestry is loam because it is porous enough to allow the transfer of water, while retaining enough thickness to channel the nutrients where they need to go for growth.
The recent emergence of organic gardening has shined light on common mistakes that beginners make that can be easily avoided. Many gardeners neglect getting the proper topsoil delivered for their plants and end up with sad flora that don’t reach their full potential. Another common mistake is not using fertilizers at all when there are plenty of natural and renewable sources that can be found around the household. Also, while pesticides and insecticides are off limits, there are home remedies and preventative measures that can stop that annoying dandelion from overwhelming your turnips and keep those slugs away.
First, the use of topsoil is really essential for giving your plants a good head start. There are a variety of organic soils available that can be purchased at a local gardening store. In general, this substance is rich in nutrients, dark in color, and can hold a great amount of moisture. All of these elements make the use of the material highly important for growing plants from seeds and to let seedlings develop a strong root. The most dramatic transformation of a crop occurs during the first few months, and the right nutrients from topsoil allow this exponential growth to occur smoothly. When you are trying to build a garden that innately has few nutrients, this material can really make a difference. Rich in silt, sand, peat, and other materials, topsoil makes up for dry and clay heavy soil that is not conducive to plant growth.
Loam is considered to be a good mix of sand, silt, and clay. These types of soils, when mixed in the right amounts can lead to bulk topsoil with great aeration, drainage, and moisture retention. You need something that will allow the grass to breath well, spread its roots vertically, and proliferate horizontally.
If you plan on mixing your topsoil with your existing backyard soil, a soil test is necessary. This is to ensure that you have the right amounts of nutrients necessary in order for your grass to grow healthy and strong. Grass is a nitrogen hog so make sure you’re starting out with something that is rich in the minerals that your lawn will need. The proper nutrition will also guarantee your grass will root itself firmly and overcome any waylaying weeds. Another consideration, especially with mixed soil, is the number of large stones and gravel in your topsoil. Avoid these as they aren’t really good for anything much except for occupying space and bringing up your purchase’s weight. These fillers are not only useless to your plants but also a mowing accident waiting to happen.
Gardeners might poke fun at the grass lover’s passion because they know that the same amount of effort is needed to grow their rewarding crops as it is to tend to those boring yet lush greens. In fact, just as great topsoil allows a flowerbed its head start, there are certain characteristics needed for a luscious lawn.
