Soil and Compost

~Step 1: Preparing the Soil~

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• What is the best soil type?

  • The ideal soil type is loam, which has equal parts of sand, silt, and clay. Loam is moist but never sticky. It crumbles easily and never crusts over or cracks when it is dry.

• Tilling:

  • Tilling is a good way to make your soil healthier before planting.

  • You should consider leaving the soil untilled if you have a small garden or raised garden bed. Tilling might disrupt the soil structure, create more erosion, and kill earthworms.

  • For small gardens: Use your hands to remove any weeds, rocks, old plants, and debris. Then, loosen the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches, but 12 is recommended. Add a layer of organic material on top (like compost or manure) of 2-3 inches. You can use a garden fork to mix it in by lightly turning the soil.

•  Mulching:

  • Mulch is a protective layer you add over the soil that limits erosion, conserves water, wards off weeds, adds nutrients to the soil, and protects your plants against temperature changes.

  • The two main types of mulch are organic mulch and inorganic mulch.

    • Organic mulch - great for vegetable and flower gardens. It enriches the soil but has to be replaced more frequently than inorganic mulch. It normally lasts 4-6 years but several factors may cause you to have to replace it every 1-2 years. Organic mulch is made of grass clippings, straw, bark, pine needles, and other organic materials.

    • Inorganic mulch - a more permanent option that is also better at weed control but doesn’t add nutrients to the soil. Stone or rubber mulch is inorganic mulch.

  • The best time to spread mulch is in spring or fall. You should choose a day following light rainfall because the mulch will help seal in the moisture.

    • In spring, rain helps break down organic materials in the mulch, which then makes its way into the soil. If you plant too early, the ground might not have warmed up from the winter. Also, wait until your plants have started growing so you don’t accidentally bury them.

    • In the fall, the mulch can provide an extra layer of insulation for the winter. You should mulch before the ground freezes over, around thanksgiving.

  • Before mulching, you should remove dried-up leaves, debris, sticks, weeds, and old mulch from previous years. If it hasn’t rained recently, you should add water to your dry beds. Next, you can start mulching! First, shovel mulch into small piles on the bed. Then, use a rake to spread it evenly. As you mulch around trees and plants, keep the mulch around three inches away from them. This avoids suffocating your plants and prevents the development of rot and other diseases. It also helps air circulation. Your mulch should be two to four inches deep. You should not be able to see the soil underneath. Mulch that is too thin allows weeds to push through, and mulch that is too thick prevents water from reaching the soil. Optional: water a final time to help settle the mulch into place.