Every good gardener must know the soil he has in his own garden well because it is the most important feature. The soil gives the plants a foothold and provides them with the necessary water and food. Maintaining and creating healthy and fertile soil must be a priority, and much can be done to improve soil quality. But before you get down to business, it’s important to learn more about soil type, texture, and structure, all of which depend on the area’s geology and location.
The structure of the soil is determined by previous cultivation methods, if the soil was maintained in the past. Structure and texture affect soil chemistry, that is, whether it will be more alkaline or acidic, which largely determines which plants will grow well and what will be the amount of living organisms in the soil.
To begin with, we will state how you can get to know the soil in the garden and the indicators of good and bad soil structure.
How to recognize soil type
While working in the garden, planting, sowing and weeding, you will gradually get to know the soil and notice which plants in your garden do well and which grow less well. If you have decided to plant and grow plants on a new plot, immediately take a good look at what the soil is like.
You can determine soil texture simply by grabbing a handful of soil. After that, dig a pit and try to recognize the properties of the soil and discover as much additional information as possible about its structure. You can always send a sample for analysis to measure your pH and identify nutrient imbalances.
Soil fertility does not depend only on the amount of plant food it contains, but rather on the sum of all the characteristics necessary for plant growth. Soil structure is just as important and, unlike soil type, can be changed by the gardener. For example, heavy loamy soil can be rich in nutrients, but produce weak plants because it is too heavy and has too much water, which prevents proper root growth for some plants. You can improve its structure simply by supplying the soil with larger amounts of air – you just need to add loose organic matter.
Indicators of soil structure
- Good soil structure – a sweet smell to the earth, the roots of plants penetrate deep, the soil is relatively easy to work, water does not stay long at the bottom of the dug pit after rain, many channels from earthworms, the upper layers of the soil are crumbly and friable even when they are dry and when they are wet, there are no hard pockets or hardened layers in the upper parts of the soil.
- Poor soil structure – plants have shallow roots, the soil has an unpleasant smell, there are few earthworms, there are compacted layers on the surface parts of the soil, water is retained in depressions and on the surface or is immediately drained, the soil is very sticky, lumpy or very dry, surface the soil layer settles when it is wet, and when it dries, a crust forms on the surface.
More than half of the volume of soil consists of organic substances, living organisms and mineral particles that were formed over time by the disintegration of rocks under the influence of weather, and the other half is made up of water and air. The combination of these ingredients favors the cultivation of plants, because food for plants is created from mineral particles and decomposed organic substances.
The chemical composition of the soil also determines its acidity or alkalinity, i.e. the pH value of the soil, which greatly influences the decision on the types of plants you can plant.
Soil acidity and pH value
A gardener who wants to know exactly the condition of his soil, in addition to knowing the nutrients, must also be familiar with the acid content in the soil, that is, with the pH value of the soil. The abbreviation pH is derived from the Latin words potentia hydrogenii, which in translation means the power of hydrogen.
The chemical connections associated with this are very complicated, but it is enough for the average gardener to know that behind the concept of pH value is the simple fact that the soil, chemically speaking, can react alkaline or acidic. In order to calculate the exact values, an international scale is defined. Scientists have determined the number seven on that scale as the “neutral point”, and soil values below seven indicate that the soil is increasingly acidic. Above the number seven, alkaline soil reactions begin.
It should be known that most cultivated plants prefer a slightly acidic soil reaction and pH values between 6 and 7. Peatland plants like heather and rhododendron like very acidic soil. Alkaline soils favor only some plants, while weakly alkaline soils and soil are suitable for cabbage, celery, carrots and cherries.
Calcium binds acids and changes the reaction of the soil in an alkaline direction, while peat makes the soil acidic. Soil analysis is very useful because accurate soil definitions can only be determined through biological and chemical testing. Such an analysis can be very useful, especially during the transition to natural methods. Bio saves gardeners unplanned and blind fertilization attempts.
Soil pH testing
Small soil analysis kits are available in many specialty stores, with the help of which you can conduct a soil test yourself, although complete and accurate information can only be obtained from scientific laboratories. In this case, it is necessary to send soil samples taken from several different places in the garden. It is recommended to analyze different areas in the garden separately.
Examples of samples can be collected from the vegetable garden, then from the part of the garden where you grow berries such as currants and raspberries, and from the place where you grow flowers and roses, but also from the place where you grow some special crops such as blueberries or aronia.
A favorable time for soil testing is autumn, between fruit picking, and spring, when all the nutrients have been used up and the soil has not yet been supplemented with fertilizers or compost. The soil needs to be taken from the upper layer in several different places. Place about half a kilogram of soil from each sample in separate plastic bags and mark them appropriately so that later you know from which part of the garden you took the sample.
Along with the samples, please include brief information about the size and the way you use your garden. It is also a good idea to indicate whether you want the usual basic test or additional analyzes such as the amount of heavy metals and recommendations regarding fertilization. After that, you send the sample to an authorized laboratory.
It is possible to find the addresses of institutes in Croatia dealing with soil analysis on the Internet. If you have chosen a regular soil test, then you will receive summary information about the soil type, pH-value, calcium requirement and condition, as well as phosphorus and potassium values. The magnesium content of the soil is often mentioned in the analysis.
For gardeners who use natural methods, it would be useful to know the biological condition of the soil, but questions about the rich or scarce life in the soil, the number of microorganisms, recommendations for natural fertilization as well as the quality of humus production have priority. Biologically oriented and specialized institutes will provide answers to all these questions.
When starting work in your new garden, an initial pH test can help you choose the right plants. It is always a good idea to check the pH value before adding lime to the soil, for example in the vegetable garden. Too much lime can make it impossible for certain nutrients to reach the plant.
Do not take samples from soil that has been recently fertilized, limed, or is located next to a compost pile, hedgerow, or incinerator. Do not take just one scoop of soil and avoid touching the samples with your hands.
Measurement of pH value
There are three ways to measure the pH value of the soil, with the help of a meter, kit and analysis. The meter consists of a probe that is pushed into the soil and shows the pH value almost instantly. It may not be completely accurate, but it will immediately show a rough value, with the advantage of being able to read the values at the location you are interested in planting.
The kits, which are the simplest and cheapest, use a liquid that changes color and thus shows the pH value of the soil. These kits are somewhat more demanding than meters, but give acceptably precise results. Take samples from different places in the garden.
Of course, one of the ways is the analysis that gives precisely measured pH values. The samples are sent to a laboratory for soil analysis.
The success of planting and growing your desired crops is highly dependent on the pH of the soil you have in your garden, so this is a factor you must start with before doing any gardening. Soils generally have a pH value of 4 to 8, and most plants need a value of 5.5 to 7.5 to grow.
Ornamental plants tolerate a fairly wide range of pH values, while some species such as heather will only grow in more acidic soil. A pH in the range of 6.5 to 7 is suitable for vegetables, and 6 to 6.5 for fruit. The pH value is also affected by the level of calcium that can be leached from the soil, especially if the soil is extremely drained, which makes the soil more acidic.
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