What Are Garden Soils and How Do They Benefit My Garden?

A garden is an organized space, normally out in the open, intended for the cultivation, show, and enjoyment of various types of flora and fauna. The single most distinguishing feature defining even the wildest of gardens is control. The garden can comprise both synthetic and organic materials. The materials can be wood, stone, glass, or plastic. And, of course, there is the basic plant: grass, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, herbs, etc.

GARDENING should not be equated with tilling the land. When tilling, you are literally turning the soil “round”. The purpose of GARDENing is to establish a permanent, year-round structure that will allow gardeners control over the type, condition, height, depth, or form of their plants. In essence, this is accomplished by GARDENING, with the addition of compost or worms, to break up the existing topsoil, as well as aerating the soil. This process provides structure to the garden, which is what the gardener wants, as well as providing food, water, or shelter. As stated above, a garden requires the direct sunlight, but also requires the partial shade during the summer months.

It is common to have a small garden, as most of the vegetables require only light to survive. A few select plants require more sun than other plants. These plants would be cabbages, dill, parsley, turnips, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions.

In addition to providing food and water, plants provide many other benefits to the garden design. Shrubs, such as raspberries, cherries, blueberries, plums, and grapes, attract bees and butterflies, which in turn, attract birds. Trees are also another benefit to the garden design, providing year-round flowers and shade for smaller plants. In the winter, trees’ needles can serve as mulch. Trees and shrubs can be a great way to block the sun during the hot summer months, yet still have the benefit of shade for smaller plants.

As plants mature, they will need a variety of nutrients and water to grow as healthy as when planted. Maintaining a healthy balance of these elements is the key to GARDENING, as planting too many different types of plants can result in an unbalanced pH level, resulting in the growth of unwanted pathogens. To help maintain a healthy balance of the soil, it is necessary to add compost to the GARDEN. This gives the soil the needed building blocks, as well as providing food for the plants.

The process of GARDENING should be an enjoyable experience for both the gardener, and his or her children. Healthy soils provide many benefits, such as more fertile land with greater yields. Bird and mammal life can flourish on a GARDEN, providing the gardener with enjoyment for many years to come. There are several types of gardens that can be worked into a GARDEN, and working with nature can help to create a tranquil oasis in the city.