How to Keep Your Soil Healthy For Gardens

A thriving healthy garden is something you want, right? Who doesn’t! There are some steps you can take to make this happen.

Keeping your soil healthy for your garden is key to blooming beautiful plants. Here are some tips to make your garden as healthy as can be!

Check Plants Before Buying

Always check your plants for dead spots or insects before you buy them. You don’t want to introduce unhealthy plants to your garden because it’s only a matter of time before it spreads just like a bad cold or flu.

Another important thing to check is the root system of the plant. Turn the plant over and remove the pot to inspect its roots. If healthy, they should be firm and white in color spreading all over the bottom of the dirt. Unhealthy roots will be darker and not quite as firm.

Compost

Composting is another important step to healthy soil. It is great for adding nutrients back into the soil, which promotes plant growth. Composting is free and can significantly reduce household waste. Here are a few examples…

• Grass clippings
• Table scraps
• Coffee grounds
• Fruit scraps
• Veggie scraps
• Egg shells
• Shredded paper

Not only will this help your garden, but will help you use your waste from the kitchen in a better way!

Pick the Right Fertilizer

Fertilizing is a good thing but there are a few things to watch out for. Over fertilizing can be just as harmful to your plants as not fertilizing at all. Providing too much of certain nutrients can damage roots which makes it difficult for the plant to absorb water effectively.

It is always best to perform a soil test so you can be sure your plants are getting the correct amounts of the different nutrients they need.

Water the Right Way

Watering your plants is obviously crucial for their survival. However, the diseases that live on plants also require water to grow and spread.

It is best to get water to the roots without getting as much on the leaves. This is nearly impossible to completely avoid but do your best. Use an irrigation system or use the hose to water directly on the base of the plant when possible.

Space Out Plants

Plants are happiest when they have enough space. Placing plants too close together promotes disease because moisture is not able to dry as quickly.

It also doesn’t give the plants room to grow and spread out since they are always competing for nutrients, light, and water.

Give your plants plenty of room to soak up the sun and grow!

Go Organic

Organic is the best answer to everything I believe! Even better than compost, add some livestock manure to your garden soil! This provides great nutrients that your plants will absolutely love.

Cover Soil With Mulch

Adding mulch to cover your soil will help to hold in moisture and protect from extreme temperatures. Mulch also adds a pretty touch to your gardens look.

Better Homes & Gardens say’s that mulch helps soil stay cooler and plant roots don’t stress from heat. This also keeps plants healthy and happy!

A Thriving Healthy Garden

Taking these tips into action will absolutely help your soil grow strong beautiful plants. It takes time to garden, but before you know it your plants will be sticking out of the soil and enjoying the warm summer months!