COLUMN OF KNOWLEDGE

Dig In To Planting Season By Knowing Your Dirt

By Russ and Melanie Bedner
The first step to healthy plants begins with flower and vegetable bed preparation. Before planting, follow these tips for a successful gardening season.

Remove all leaves, sticks, and stones from the planting area. Pull weeds that have started growing. This will leave beds clean and prevent weeds from spreading.

Assess the quality of your soil by using a soil test kit. These kits test for pH ranges and ideal nutrient levels according to the type of plant. Tests often will let you know exactly what the existing soil needs, depending on the plants you wish to grow in that area. Soil testing is ideally done about every three years, and can be done in the fall after frost and beds have been cleaned. At that time, limestone and/or nutrients can be added. This gives the soil the entire fall and winter to adjust. However, soil testing and preparation is also suitable in spring.

There are various components that can be added to soil. Adding peat moss conditions the soil and helps with water retention. Perlite and vermiculite increases aeration. These two ingredients help to maintain a proper moisture balance.

Adding compost or fertilizer, such as mushroom manure or an all-purpose fertilizer, enriches the soil with many necessary nutrients. A good all-purpose fertilizer has a 10-10-10 or 19-19-19 ratio of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. You can mix the peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and compost or fertilizer yourself, or they can be found in premixed bags. After applying these ingredients, incorporate thoroughly into the existing soil using a shovel or rototiller.

Following these flower and vegetable bed preparation tips will enhance your growing success. Soil care is a vital factor in plant health, leading to bigger blooms and greater vegetable yield, and therefore a happy gardener!