How Do I Know If My Soil Needs More Nutrients?

Gardening can be a beneficial hobby, but it is not easy. Getting healthy plants is not something that automatically happens. While some people get lucky and are able to yield fruits and vegetables from their plants with minimal work, this is not always the case.

In many cases, there are soil issues. Not all soil is created equal and depending on the type of soil you have and where you live, your soil may not be healthy enough to produce healthy plants. Even if you are an experienced gardener, you may not know a lot about the signs of poor soil. Here are some things you can do to determine your soil health.

Assess Your Plants

The condition of your plants can help determine their level of soil nutrients. Look for:

• Yellowed plants. This can indicate nitrogen deficiencies.
• Purple or dark-green plants with leaves that look burned. This can indicate a phosphorous deficiency.
• Curled leaves with purplish spots. This can indicate potassium deficiencies.
• Poor fruit/flower production. If your plants are not producing many flowers or fruits, it might be due to a lack of phosphorus or potassium.
• Stunted or poor growth. Plants that look withered despite receiving adequate water are unhealthy.

Do a Taste Test

If your fruits and vegetables do not taste right, it is possible that your soil’s nutrient levels may be off. Some foods, such as carrots, will have a strange taste and look misshapen if the potassium levels are low. Vegetables such as cabbage may taste bitter. Rely on your taste buds to help you determine if your soil is up to par.

Test the Soil

Consider a pH test. Soil pH can affect nutrients. If the pH is too high or low, your plants may not be receiving certain nutrients. You can also use home soil test kits to check for levels of nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

How to Add Nutrients

If your soil has deficiencies, you can add nutrients with the following:

• Compost. You control what is in the compost, but there is typically a good mix of nutrients. You can include vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and more.
• Banana peels. Peels are beneficial for the soil. They provide potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and nitrogen.
• Wood ashes. Wood ashes can raise the soil’s pH level. Wood ash also contains potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and sulfur.
• Epsom salt. That stuff you put in the bathtub can be beneficial for your plants. Epsom salt provides magnesium. It also increases the production of chlorophyll and deters pests, both of which promote good plant health.

Contact Us Today

Healthy grass and plants mean healthy soil. Sometimes soil needs to be supplemented with nutrients.

Get help with your lawn maintenance from the team at All Star Landscaping. We have more than 30 years of combined experience in lawn care, maintenance, and landscaping, so we can help you get a beautiful yard. Contact us today for a quote. Fill out the online form or call (314) 568-6332.