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I’ve been gardening for a long time, and I’ve met countless problems head on, each leaving me to feverishly attempt to remedy them. Many of these times, I’ve been too late. That’s the problem with plants, by the time you notice that something’s wrong, there’s nothing you can do. They’ve entered senescence, meaning they’ve already begun the irreversible process of dying. There’s no pulling out the electric paddles for plants. Once it’s begun, it’s over.
About ten years ago when I began gardening seriously, I started quite a large vegetable garden in an overzealous effort to grow enough veggies to can that fall, so that I wouldn’t have to spend the money on out of season fresh vegetables from the grocery store. I dug a 10’x10′ square out of the sod in my back yard, tossed in about an inch overall of cow manure, and planted. I bought good seed too- really, I spent way too much on the seed. But, you know what they say about hindsight.
It was a LOT of work. I had occasional help from friends and my husband, but doing most of the work really took its toll on my body that spring that translated into physical therapy that summer- not to say that it wasn’t rewarding overall. And yes, my seeds sprouted beautifully- the good germination rates made me feel like an expert. But that didn’t last long.
I used a general fertilizer from my local box store geared towards veggies that summer, but I was still having issues with chlorosis in my corn. Everything grew stunted, discolored. My various cucurbits had underdeveloped fruit with rotting ends. At the time I thought it was the seed, or it was an issue of not enough water. I now know it was because of a severe lack and imbalance in micronutrients from the soil- something cheap general fertilizers don’t offer and can’t remedy.
So, what’s my point? My point is you should do everything you can in terms of preventative measures to ensure you’re giving your plants a proper foundation to flourish. Having your soil tested is how you start. Knowing what your soil is comprised of is the singular best way to start before you do any planting, any gardening, and any sort of landscaping with plants.
The University of Connecticut offers a soil testing service that’s cheap and comprehensive, adaptable to any application. It’s also easy. All you do is call or e-mail them, and ask them for a soil test collection kit. They’ll mail it to you. Follow the instructions in the mailer. This soil test will require you go out and collect soil from the areas you plan to plant in. Place these soil samples in baggies, and label them. Then fill out the questionnaire about what you’re going to be planting in those areas. The soil lab asks this because they also offer suggestions along with your test on how to amend your soil, with what you need and how much, depending on what you’re going to be growing. They do all of the work for you!
The very best start you can give your gardens begins with a very good understanding of the soil you’re working with. Micronutrient deficiencies sicken and weaken plants, which also opens the door for more infections and the inability to heal from other onslaughts (bug damage, weather damage, etc). Too much clay in the soil impedes drainage and nutrient availability. Not enough humus essentially inhibits water absorption into the soil. There are many other factors to consider that can be easily amended and a soil test will tell you all of these things and how you can fix them. It’s well worth the time and the small amount of effort, saving you money and heartache in the end.
If you do in fact discover that your soil is lacking in many areas you probably want to purchase topsoil. With our screened organic topsoil the work is already done. All you have to do is call us and we will deliver it right to the spot of the problem. With one phone call you will have a pile of soil right where you need it, without having to play chemist with your own soil.
[jbox border=”6″ radius=”12″ shadow=”5″ title=”Ordering Topsoil-Tips & Info”]Soil ordering tips can be found in a past post of ours. With the helpful advice you can order topsoil like a pro. [jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://grilloservices.com/grillo-blog/topsoilct/”]Read[/jbutton]
Healthy soil makes happy plants, happy plants make happy people!
Most soils will have very low levels of organic content, meaning little to no micro and macro nutrients. Planting in soil like this is similar to feeding your children Ramen Noodles(I hope they don’t sue me), plants need nutrients! Growing plants in soil like this will never provide them with enough nutrition to thrive. A quick fix is to order our screened leaf compost and mix it right with the soil you already have. This is a good option because you are utilizing the existing soil, saving you from having to purchase all new topsoil.
[jbox border=”6″ radius=”12″ shadow=”5″ title=”Compost Info”]If you are interested in our compost you may want to learn the process that goes into making it. We have a post that includes videos of our machinery, and in depth info on our Ct compost facility. [jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://grilloservices.com/grillo-blog/ct-bulk-organic-compost-for-sale-ct/”]Read[/jbutton][jbox border=”6″ radius=”12″ shadow=”5″ title=”How To Compost At Home”]Another thing to remember is that you can always make your own compost. I think the less people I show this post to the better, more people composting means less people buying our compost, oh well! [jbutton color=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://grilloservices.com/grillo-blog/making-your-own-compost/”]Read[/jbutton]