This is the basis on which rests the successful growing of plants in
any garden. It is of course related to the kind of plants you grow or
want to grow. Some plants that thrive best in poor well drained soil,
others need moist, fertile soil. So whether your soil is 'good' or not
depends on what you want grow .
It makes sense if you want an easy life,
wherever possible to suit the plants to your conditions rather than try
to change your soil or conditions, especially when it comes to growing
plants that have specific requirements such as dislike of alkaline
soil.
There are however optimum conditions for the majority of
plants. Most plants for instance will grow well in a slightly
acid soil, that is not water-logged nor bone dry, and with a reasonable
level of nutrients neither too much nor too little.
Growing lots of plants improves the soil, because
the roots are constantly bringing up nutrients from lower levels,
keeping them available in the upper layers of soil. They do not deplete
the soil unless you are taking crops off it regularly or growing only a
few of the same sort of plants, and not retuning, any material that is
removed during the season.
The way to keep it good while all the time
improving the texture, is to ensure that most of the top growth when
removed is recycled via the garden compost heap, to go back onto the
soil as a humus mulch in late autumn /winter, for the worms to take it
down.
Added Nutrients should only be needed in special
conditions when you know there to be good reason, e.g. you are
taking crops off, growing 'prize blooms' or know there is a deficiency.
Too much fertiliser can cause more problems than they solve.
To improve the soil texture add humus, ensure
good drainage, add lime when appropriate, protect the soil by mulching,
control of unwanted plants (weeds) and preventing it getting compacted
are the best ways to keep your soil 'sweet' and healthy.
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