Soil type identification - Acid or Alkaline ?

Is your soil acid or alkaline? (and does it really matter)
Does whether your soil is acid or alkaline really matter??, well the answer is yes, to the plant.... it does matter. Whether your soil is more acid, alkaline or somewhere in the middle is very important to how well your plant will prosper. Soil which is alkaline (sometimes called sweet) or acid ( sour ). Although some plants like azaleas and blueberries prefer acid soil, most vegetables and flowers prefer soils that are neutral or slightly acid. When you are planning and purchasing your garden items, think in advance what your best course of action will be. If the soil under my feet is acid, I will grow acid lovers in the ground and put my alkaline lovers in pots. If my soil is alkaline I will put my acid lovers into pots so I can keep everyone separated and happy and I get the best my plants can offer with the least amount of fuss and bother.

If you demand to place that acid lover into alkaline soil you can do some adjusting to the soil to accomodate it. You will need to keep checking the soil periodically to be sure that you are keeping it at the level your plant requires.You can have your soil professionally analyzed. Conducted professionally, a soil analysis can point to the reasons you may be experiencing troubles. Your county agricultural agent's office can suggest a laboratory in your area that will test your soil and make recommendations for improvements. You can purchase a soil analysis meter. These are relatively cheap and if you look hard enough you can find a quality made meter with a water meter, acidity/alkalinity tester and light meter all built in together. If you would like to see an example of what I am speaking of ... check out my site, http://www.mybonsaibuddy.com/ I normally carry them and at an affordable price. Enter the word meter into the search bar on the front page and if they are in stock the search will pull up what is available.

You can always purchase soil specifically designed for the type of plants you wish to grow and grow above the ground or in containers. Containers give you the option of moving the plants around. This comes in handy for catching just the right type and amount of sun during the day, or it could come in handy for moving the plants inside for the winter or during extreme weather conditions. Be sure and read my upcoming blog on how to grow plants in soil-less soils which will be coming soon!

My parting words are words of advice, research the plant or tree you are interested in first and determine which type of soil it requires, determine the type of soil you have available and make sure they match. There should be a tag included with the plant you purchase which will give you information regarding the plants care, if there is no tag.... put the plant down. That $4.99 plant could end up costing you for a container, a bag of soil and some special fertilizer .... total $$$$$.... more than you wanted to spend. So always do your research first, before you purchase, don't rely on the cashier to give you correct information.

Please check back for more hints and helpful gardening information. Happy Gardening!

Soil type identification - Determining YOUR soil type

Soil Identification

The beginning of your journey into the rewarding aspects of organic gardening.

The bottom line is that some plants will only grow in particular types of soil, and some will grow in soils other than their preferred mix but they will not grow as well and will require soil additives to replace what is missing. You can match your plants to the soil you have or you can change your soil to grow the plants you desire. You have to do your research to make sure that you have a match.

What type of soil do you have? Basically there are 3 types of soil and multiple soil combinations.(Please don't call it dirt !!) I recommend a professionally conducted soil analysis from your county agriculture agents office which will give you the perfect recommendation for the soil changes you need to make. Your particular county's agriculture agent will be able to suggest a laboratory nearest you to get the testing done and what you need to do. The Agriculture department is a wealth of information and are there to help you when ever you have a question.

If you would like to try to self-diagnose your soil .... choose one of the following that best describes your soil .......

Clay soil is very fine textured and the individual particles fit tightly together. These fine particles will fit so tightly that water cannot penetrate between them. This causes water run-off. When water sits on hard clay soil, it will eventually work into the soil and sit like a bowl of water. Plants roots have a hard time penetrating through this hard, compact soil. It is also referred to as "heavy soil". Clay is packed full of wonderful elements for plant growth and health but clay alone is not enough. Clay soil does not hold the additional nutrients needed or the oxygen necessary for healthy plants. Do not fret though if you have clay soil to begin with.... you can make it into a wonderful soil with just a little effort and a few needed elements. Depending on the hardness of the soil, or if you live in a region where it snows and you want to be able to use your garden a little longer, an above ground garden can be the perfect answer. I was thrilled and amazed at some of the really new and bright ideas and shapes when it comes to above ground gardens. They are so easy to put together and can really shock you at how much you can grow in a small space. The shapes really excite me with sunburst patterns and tiers. I will go into more detail about them in another blog when I will name some of the best places I have found to do business online.

Sandy soil is lighter and allows free air movement through the soil but it is problematic in the fact that it does not hold water or valuable nutrients in. Water runs right through it and so do all the necessary vitamins and minerals, fertilizers, etc. The good news is that few soils are either 100% sand or 100% clay. And both of the above mentioned sub-par soils can be amended to make the ideal soil which is..... drum roll please...............

Loam soil is the ideal soil mixture and your goal in gardening soil. Loam soil allows free circulation of soil, oxygen and water. The structure allows excess water to drain away while still retaining enough water for healthy, productive plant growth. Loam soil also allows excellent root growth. New roots have no trouble penetrating through the soil. The healthier the roots the healthier the plant and more productive it will be. Healthy plants means spending less! Healthy plants are able to ward off pests and diseases easier than a sickly plant. Loam soil holds in the fertilizers longer allowing the plant to make the most use of it. When you think loam, think fertile growing medium.

There are ways to amend your soil to make it possible to grow the plants you desire. It may take a little more time to prepare the soil, but if you are determined you can make it happen.

There are a number of products which can be used in place of soil, yes... soil-less soil! Items which are used for growing plants in and which are beneficial and extremely heathy for your plants. Items such as the following are a main staple in bonsai, items such as small red lava particles, turface, Akadama, and Kanuma. These products are recommended for bonsai because of the ability to drain freely while retaining moisture, allow and encourage fine root growth, and natural minerals available to the roots of the plants. To see some of the products you can visit this link to http://www.mybonsaibuddy.com/ to see the different types referred to as soil-less soils, how the products are used and what they will do for your plants that your own soil does not do. You can see a photo of a soil-less soil at the top of this blog. Some products actually contain soil (clay) but it is extremely hard and does not break down as the normal clay that we know from the ground in the United States. This clay product is imported from the mountains in China.

You will always have the choice to build an above ground garden, garden in containers or grow your harvest directly in water, the options are endless and all worth the time you invest. I will make a blog for instructions on how to amend your soil, if you should realize that you don't have the type of soil you need to grow the particular plants you desire, soon to follow.

I highly suggest you read my blog about Organic Gardening which will give you a very good idea of what your soil requires to be a healthy, there is much more involved than you may know and you can help your soil with anything it may be lacking in. My Organic Gardening blog will also fill you in on major and minor nutrients which good healthy soil should have and thrifty ways of enriching your soil with household items.

I will keep adding information which I feel will be helpful to you in your quest whether it be planting a new favorite tree in your yard or setting up a small garden for your personal use, to creating your own bonsai or maintaining an established bonsai all the way down to general garden tips. I hope you find my blog helpful and you will visit back to see what's new. Until then.... Happy Gardening.