If you ask me, the best thing you can do in your garden is to build soil life. Most don't realize how important the soil life in your garden is. This soil is responsible for a plethora of things that happen in your garden. We often neglect this part of the garden, yet it is the most important part.
Why is soil life so important
According to Ohio state university one teaspoon of soil can contain anywhere between 100 million to 1 billion microorganisms. So a handful of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than people on the entire earth!
These microorganisms are responsible for an amazing symbiotic relationship with plants. Here are some of the things that microorganisms do for the garden:
- Break down plant material into nutrients for plants to use
- Nitrogen fixation
- Phosphorus fixation
- Suppression of pests, diseases, and harmful bacteria
- Protect plants from invaders
- Keeping the balance of bacteria in the garden
Plants were made for this
When they first started to study plants they noticed that they sometimes excrete glucose (what plants use for energy) through the roots and into the soil. It was thought to be a fundamental flaw in the plants design.
We now know that these plants had this built in for a purpose. The purpose was to feed the soil microbes. Plants were created to live in soils with high microorganism count. Now, let's see how we can encourage this soil life with simple methods to create a healthier garden.
How to encourage soil life
Soil life needs to be nourished to thrive. It is possible to completely kill all the life in the soil. Let's start off with some ways you can encourage this soil life.
Mulching
Mulching the soil is a wonderful and easy way to increase soil life. For your garden, simply cover the soil with grass clippings, dead leaves, straw, or compost. If you want to learn more about mulching go here
Composting
Compost is filled with beneficial microorganisms. Using compost and compost tea in the garden will promote and add life to the soil. You can learn to compost here.
Using natural fertilizers
Synthetic fertilizers will kill soil life. I like to use natural fertilizers (my favorite one being fish emulsions you can buy it here) in the garden to keep this soil life alive.
Don't over till the garden
Over tilling of the soil can rip up the network of soil life beneath the soil's surface. By tilling less and only when the weather is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above you can minimize the damage of the soil life.
Consistent moisture
Areas that are extremely dry or extremely wet are deficient of soil life. Mulching can help keep moisture consistent.
Things that are killing your soil life
Here is a list of things that you might be doing that will kill your soil life. If you are using these practices stop using them ASAP. After I stopped doing these things and started using natural practices my garden's health started improving greatly.
Synthetic chemicals
Synthetic pesticides and fertilizers will kill soil life. These products contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to soil life, insects (both beneficial and pests), animals, and people. Use organic fertilizer instead.
Starving the soil
If you do not give your soil enough organic matter you will starve the soil life. Microorganisms feed on this matter so make sure to mulch and add compost to your garden.
Uncovering the soil
If you do not mulch your soil you are leaving it uncovered and vulnerable to the elements. The strong sunlight and heavy rains can be harmful to soil life.
Will you be able to notice if your soil life is healthy?
The short answer is yes you will be able to notice it. Most soil is not that healthy. This leads to nutrient deficiencies, compact soil, sick plants, and diseases. All of these things can be seen with the naked eye.
When I started my garden the soil was pretty much dead in regards to soil life. After a few years of good stewardship by using these simple methods my soil life was thriving (so were my plants).
How long till my soil life is rejuvinated?
Soil will take some time to "heal" its wound. I have seen many people try to switch to organic gardening and give up after only a year of trying it.
They will say it didn't work and they are probably right. The reason it did not work is they did not give it enough time. Organic gardening practices do take time to work, but every year there are exponential benefits.
I can truly say that my soil life gets healthier and healthier every year with these simple methods to building soil life.
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