FROM THE GROUND UP start with the soil
It’s easy to take soil for granted… until you decide to grow something! Even though we are often trying to cover up the ground with plants, a lush garden really does rely on soil quality. Plants don’t need a lot of extra care when they’re grown in amazing soil. Although it’s typical to not start out with the best, you don’t have to just accept what you have. There are many ways to improve it.
What is soil? First, it might be helpful to understand what makes up soil. While all soil began as rock millions of years ago, over time the rock has broken down into smaller particles—sand, silt and clay. Sand is the largest of the three particles, followed by silt, then clay. The proportion of each of these components in your soil determines the texture, moisture-holding ability and fertility. The ideal soil is loam, which is a balanced mix of the three. But when you’re looking at a handful of soil, there are other components—read on to see what they are and how they impact your garden.
Organic matter, or humus, is an important element of good soil. It provides many of the nutrients as it breaks down and should be replenished regularly to maintain good soil quality. Manure and plant debris, such as bark, leaves and grass clippings, are great sources of organic matter. Over time, adding more will improve
