Gardening is a Natural Beginning to a Healthier Living.
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Depending on the type of garden you are creating and the plants you will be growing, you will need one or more of the soil options below. Not all soil is created equal and you will need to know what type of soil your plants need in order for them to grow to their full potential. I have kept the details quick and dirty. I will go into a lot more detail in the individual plant pages as to what type of soil, or how to amend the basic soil, and what nutrients to add to the soil for each plant type.
Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Wikipedia No history lesson here, just an easy read on what soil is made of. It is the decaying matter of once living things. Interestingly enough, that decaying matter is what helps our gardens grow and thrive. Welcome to the circle of life in a garden.
When you start reading all about soils and what to use in the garden, it can get pretty crazy on the web. Information everywhere and some of it is so detailed that it gets confusing. I have kept it simple below for the moment and will go into more detail on individual plant, flower, and spice pages.
Topsoil is ideal for filling in low spots in lawns or walkways. It is not filled with the compost needed for any type of garden.
Garden Soil is topsoil that has been enriched with compost and organic matter to be used in gardens for plant growth. Ideal for ground or raised beds, but not ideal for individual containers.
Potting soil or potting mix (same thing) is ideal for container gardening. Some potting soil or mixes contain water retaining crystals or chemical fertilizers. It is a blend of material, but has NO SOIL. Not ideal for ground or raised beds.
Compost is organic matter (such as leaves, vegetables and plant scraps) that has been decomposed and is rich in nutrients. Compost is a great additive to garden soil after it has completed its composting cycle and is now the consistency of dark rich soil. Compost feeds the soil, not the plants. (Fertilizer feeds the plants, not the soil.) Check out 6 Different Ways to Compost by Epic Gardening ~ there is a lot of good information there that will help you no matter where you live.
Fertilizer is what feeds your plants.
Nitrogen is used by plants for lots of good green color and leaf growth. Phosphorous is used by plants to help form new roots, make seeds, fruit and flowers. It's also used by plants to help fight disease. Potassium helps plants make strong stems and speedy growth.
You now have some understanding on the different types of soil used in gardens. I will go into more detail on the exact soil to use on the individual plant pages, whether it be a vegetable, flower, or spice/herb.
Now you just need to figure out what you want to plant? Let's go back to Garden Basics and follow up with Step Four.
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