Guide To Restore Fertility

Over ninety-eight percent of your garden‘s growth comes directly from organic matter.
Not enough and your plants are handicapped from the very start. Organic matter, also referred to as compost, supplies many benefits for your soil such as carbon which is a requirement for the propagation all living things. Carbon helps by stimulating the growth of micro-organisms, earth worms, and other beneficial creatures that comprise healthy, living soil. Compost contains microbes that secrete organic acids which help release nutrients contained in soil particles. They also secrete polysaccharides that glue soil particles into stable aggregates. The end result is abundant microbial activity that improves the overall soil structure, increases air penetration and water-holding capacity, and resists soil compaction. Not bad.

The smallest building blocks of soil structure are made by beneficial bacteria. Without bacteria, the glue that hold the soil food web together would not occur and further development of soil structure will not happen. Bacteria occupy most of the leaf or root surface and thus are most effective at consuming the food resources that disease-causing organisms would otherwise consume. In soil, bacteria have additional benefits: they retain nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium. They also help to decompose plant-toxic materials and plant residues while building the soil‘s aggregate structure.

I heard an 'expert' state that OM should be applied at a rate of four to six inches. I think that is poor advice. (Actually I think that is nuts but I want to be nice) This woman was a self described 'designer and consultant' It was embarrassingly obvious that the closest she ever got to a garden - was when she driving past one.

If you are amending your garden soil simply till it in. If you are using containers or have raised bed gardening then stir it in with a trowel or your hand.

Remember, as you amend the soil with organic matter you are increasing soil fertility and therefore decreasing the amounts of amendments you need in the future! This is an investment in your property that will pay dividends for years to come. Organic gardening is a process not an event, take your time and enjoy the process. The longer you stay with organic methods, the lower the overall expense and the better the results.

Ideally, you want an organic material that has been fully composted and free of pathogens. Locally available compost is always the best because you’re not paying extra for shipping Just remember the caveat: "buyer beware.”

If the compost is advertised as a top quality compost, the seller will list batch testing results to verify their claims. If they don't have testing results from a laboratory they have no real basis for their claim.

The goal is to buy compost that is ”alive,” and it should have adequate levels fungi, bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes.

If good compost is not readily available, see if you can find a farm and get a load of manure that you can compost yourself. It will require a little effort on your part, but what you save will make it all worthwhile. If you’re not already, consider starting a small compost. With a little learning curve you can have a compost comparable to any you can buy at your local garden center. You can find practical information about composting from www.compost junkie.com Now that we have organic matter covered, it is time to pay close attention to our report as we continue here

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