So,
spring is here and you are ready to make a creation of beauty
in your garden. You have all the tools you need; you know
what you want to plant; and you have a good idea where you
want to place each one of your plants . . . but, wait! What
about the soil in your garden? Yes, of course,
you have dirt . . . but, we’re talking soil. And,
dirt and soil are definitely not equal.
Did
you know that good soil is made up of 50% solid material,
25% water, and 25% air? By solid material, we mean mineral
bits—sand, silt, clay, and organic material (compost,
manure, peat moss, etc.). If you are working with sandy
soil, organic matter acts like a sponge to hold water and
nutrients around the roots. If you are working with clay
soil, it enables water, nutrients, and air to travel more
easily through the root system.
So,
in order for you to enjoy the fruits of your garden labor
— the beautiful green leaves, delightful blossoms,
wonderful smells, gorgeous colors—you will need to
have happy plants that have happy roots surrounded by nutritious
soil.
And
nutritious soil means creating a thriving ecosystem
of busy worms and nematodes and the tiny organisms of fungi
and bacteria that work constantly to allow plant roots to
breathe and take in water. This also means keeping track
of the acidity of your garden soil.
The
combination of acid rain, fertilizers, and too much iron
introduced into soil can create a ground environment that
is too acidic for plants to successfully grow. If you are
concerned about the pH content of your garden soil, visit
your local garden center and purchase a pH kit. Then from
the test results, you’ll know exactly what you need
to do to create a needed balance.
Also,
keep in mind that just because you’ve bedded your
plants in good soil, doesn’t mean they can go without
food. An encouraging word now and then a little fertilizer
throughout their growing season will keep them “smiling”
day in and day out! Check out the packages of fertilizers
at your garden center and you’ll find that nitrogen
(N) is essential for stem and leaf growth—dark green
foliage. Potassium (K) is a must for good plant metabolism
and food manufacturing. Phosphorus (P) is vital for flower
production, fruit development, and root growth.
According
to research, plants cannot recognize whether you’ve
applied organic or inorganic fertilizer to your garden;
but the soil can. Inorganic fertilizer is less expensive,
slow acting—remains in the soil longer for the plants’
intake—but can burn plants if not applied properly.
Organic fertilizer, on the other hand—made from vegetable
and animal byproducts like blood meal, fish emulsions, animal
manures, and sewage sludge—usually provides much lower
amounts of nutrients per pound and is bulkier and more expensive.
So
go and get started with your garden! Take the dirt
you have and turn it into the soil you need.
• Test your dirt so you’ll find out
what you need to add.
• Then mix the dirt with organic
material. Compost is great to start with. You can also use
aged manure, chopped leaves, peat, and saw dust to transform
your dirt into the soil mixture just right for your plants.
Soil still too acidic, just add a little limestone.
• And watch your garden grow!
“A
love of life begins in the garden
. . . A life of love grows in the heart”
by Malcolm Peckham
There
is peace within a garden, a peace that’s deep and
calm,
That when the heart is troubled it’s like a soothing
balm.
Life’s
cycle in the garden, resembles that of man.
The seed is sown and given care, the plant grows straight
and strong.
With rain and sun and tender care. The fruit from buds do
soon appear,
The bounty safely stored, the miracle of nature awaits the
coming years.
There’s
glory in the garden at every time of year,
Each season has its gifts, to fill the heart with cheer.
So
ever tend your garden site, its beauty to increase,
For in it you’ll find solace and in it you’ll
find peace.
Malcolm
Peckham is a cousin of Dave Hamlen and is a retired professor
from Cornell University.
A
bird in the hand is worth two in the workplace . . .
A man
entered a pet shop, wanting to buy a parrot.
The shop owner pointed out three identical parrots on a
perch and said,
“The parrot to the left costs $500.”
“Why does that parrot cost so much?” the man
wondered.
The owner replied, “Well, it knows how to use a computer.”
The man asked about the next parrot on the perch.
“That one costs $1,000 because it can do everything
the other parrot can do, plus it knows how to use the UNIX
operating system.”
Naturally, the startled customer asked about the third parrot.
“That one costs $2,000.”
“And what does that one do?” the man asked.
The owner replied, “To be honest, I’ve never
seen him do a thing, but the other two call him Boss!”
(July
2008 issue of GCP&S)
