Soil Management in Yards and Gardens

Gardeners manage the environment of plants to help them grow and develop normally. Gardeners should select plants adapted to the over-all climate, plant them in the exposure (sun or shade) preferred by the plant, and provide an adequate supply of air, water, and mineral nutrients in the soil.

Soil management is the major gardening task since the soil is the most easily controllable part of the plant's environment. Soil provides the mineral nutrients and water used by plants to manufacture their food supply and structural components. Soil also supplies oxygen and structural support for plant roots.

Few garden soils provide ideal conditions for plant growth. Sandy soils provide plenty of oxygen but do not hold water and mineral nutrients well. They must be irrigated and fertilized more frequently and in lesser amounts than fine-textured soils. Clay soils hold minerals well but can hold too much water, excluding air from the soil. They are sticky when wet and become hard when dry.

Gardeners should work to improve both the plant environment and the greater environment. Sound soil management helps reduce runoff, erosion, chemical leaching, arid weed problems, and helps conserve water.

This bulletin describes garden soils and their management, including organic matter, efficient irrigation, nutrients and fertilizers, soil testing, and soil amendments.
ORGANIC MATTER

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