If you’ve ever had the pleasure of eating tomatoes fresh from the garden, you know that they blow store-bought tomatoes out of water. The truth is that modern farming practices are designed to grow produce – like tomatoes – that can withstand travel and last long enough to reach our tables.
Commercial farming also places little emphasis on soil health, which adds another layer of blandness. When you grow your own vegetables in your own garden – that’s full of healthy soil – the difference in quality is impossible to deny. Ready to get your own garden in prime shape for growing – or ready to get a garden started – don’t wait to consult with a trusted Wildwood soil and garden management company.
The Important Role Your Soil Plays
The health of your soil plays a critical role in how well your garden grows. When your soil is healthy, it affords your plants the nutrients essential to their health and the organic matter needed for optimal growth. Inferior soil, on the other hand, can lead to all the following concerns:
- Nutrient deficiencies that can stunt plant growth
- Unhealthy soil that can be a breeding ground for pests and diseases that harm or kill plants
- Soil erosion that leaves the ground without its rich, plant-friendly top layer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture puts it this way: Soil is not an inert growing medium – it is a living and life-giving natural resource. It is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elegant symbiotic ecosystem. In other words, when your soil is in good shape, you can expect the flowers and vegetables you grow to follow suit.
Improving Your Soil, Improving Your Garden
There are a range of steps that can be taken to help improve the quality of your soil and, thus, your garden, including:
- Preparing the soil for planting through less invasive tillage
- Increasing organic matter in the soil by planting cover crops such as legumes, composting, and mulching
- Rotating your crops by planting a cover one year and vegetables the next
- Using the right fertilizer – choosing carefully between organic and synthetic options
Getting your soil garden-ready doesn’t have to mean dropping everything and dedicating yourself to optimizing your soil – a professional soil and garden management company can take care of that for you.