Gaining a Green thumb – part 1 – Make the bed your plants will sleep in.

There are a lot of variables in gaining a green thumb in the garden.  One that might be taken for granted lies beneath you.  That’s right, soil (aka – dirt = a dirty word in horticulture).  Many of us think about plants, sunlight, fertilizer, and watering - but the soil needs your attention also. Soil holds and sustains the lovely plants we grow.  It must have appropriate qualities to ensure success for the plants we put in it. Soil should be free of weeds and have good drainage.  Perennials weeds often have long deep tap roots that make it very difficult to remove by hand.  Use a Glyphosate product (round-up) for spot spraying the trouble weeds, taking care not to let it drift or evaporate when applied.  Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.  Many states are finding traces of this chemical in prohibited areas that could cause reverberating effects to the environment we live off of. The area you intend on planting should be able to absorb water and drain it moderately.  If the area is too compact or holds a lot of clay it can easily allow the precious water we use to run over the lawn, through the woods, to grandmother’s house it goes.  Nope- rewind, to the sewer it goes, causing a whole different issue.  Clay soils can be amended by adding compost, peat moss and even sand to the area then tilling it in.  Amending and tilling can help remedy compaction as well as vermin-composting (gross – I mean vermicomposting, the use of worms in compost creation).  A recommended 25-30% organic matter is recommended by volume in the soil.  Try adding 2-4 inches of matter at the surface, then work that into the top 8-12 inches of soil.  This should help with the absorption rate of the soil.  Moderate drainage can be checked by digging an 8-12” hole then filling it with water.  If the hole drains in an hour or less you have moderate drainage. It is also important to have adequate nutrients and microorganisms in the soil.  These are naturally found in soil, but can be increased by adding organic matter and/or man-made fertilizer.  If you desire to add fertilizer, look closely at the makeup which is found easily on the front of almost every bag shown by 3 numbers (ex. 5-10-5).  Those 3 numbers stand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – nutrients needed for healthy growth.  For starting up a garden a good even mix is advised.  If you really want to know what is lacking, a soil sample must be taken and evaluated.  The local office of Midwest Laboratories serves the Omaha metro area in soil testing.  You can get instructions to take the sample yourself and receive the test results printed for a small fee or you can contact Greenlife Gardens for help in the matter.  Now that you’ve prepped the bed, you can let your plants lie in it!