{"id":2284,"date":"2024-07-05T13:21:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T13:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demolinks2.com\/nina-melillo\/?p=2284"},"modified":"2024-07-05T13:23:55","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T13:23:55","slug":"preparing-soil-for-gardening-all-soil-is-not-created-equal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demolinks2.com\/nina-melillo\/preparing-soil-for-gardening-all-soil-is-not-created-equal\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Soil For Gardening \u2013 All Soil is Not Created Equal"},"content":{"rendered":"

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So you have decided to create a garden. Woohoo! I hope you have read my previous blogs because they will help you with the fundamentals of gardening<\/a>. Todays blog is going to touch upon various kinds of soil and preparing soil for gardening. The soil is \u201cfood\u201d for plants and we want to make sure they are being fed highly nutritious ingredients along with superior minerals. It is best to know what kind of soil you have in your yard before planting flowers. All soil is not created equal.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Types of Soil \u2013 Let\u2019s Get Down and Dirty<\/strong><\/div>\n
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There are 3 basic kinds<\/u><\/strong> of soil and where you live usually determines which type of soil is found in your yard.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1. <\/strong>Sandy Soil<\/u><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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If you live in a coastal area or a desert, you probably have sandy soil<\/u><\/strong> which tends to be acidic and low in nutrients because it drains very easily. It feels rough upon touching and is grainy and the particles are quite large. Some flowers that like sandy soil are bearded iris, salvia, and sedum just to name a few.<\/div>\n
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2. <\/strong>Clay<\/u><\/strong><\/div>\n
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Have you ever seen cracked soil when it is very hot outside? You can probably count on this being clay<\/u><\/strong>. Clay particles are very tiny and stick closely together. As a result, clay is less porous than sand and can almost create a barrier which prevents water from sifting through. Clay has many more nutrients than sand, but because it does not drain well at all, it will be very heavy and cause your plant\u2019s roots to rot from too much water. Clay can usually be found around ponds or streams. It is probably clay if the ground you are walking on is slippery after a rain, and if you can form a ball by just squeezing a handful of dirt. Asters, bee balms and daylilies enjoy a clay diet.<\/div>\n
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3. <\/strong>Loam<\/u><\/strong><\/div>\n
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When walking through the woods, you most likely see bits of leaves, twigs or other organic things decomposing on the floor. This decomposition of organic materials creates loam<\/u><\/strong>. This type of soil provides the best soil for most plants because it is chock-full of nutrients and minerals and it drains well. However, plants are fickle so you have to know which type of \u201cfood\u201d your plant likes to eat.<\/div>\n
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Usually your soil is a combination of these materials, so which type of soil do you have??<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Prepare the Plot \u2013 For a Garden That Is!<\/strong><\/div>\n
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If you have read my previous blog, \u201cGardening Ideas for Beginners \u2013 I think I Can!<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u201c,<\/u><\/strong> you\u2019ve probably decided on the location of your garden. If you\u2019re lucky, it is just a small plot of land covered with dirt. However, if you\u2019re not that lucky and it\u2019s covered with thick, lush, grass, preparing soil for a garden involves a little more muscle. Here are some suggestions for preparing soil for gardening:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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