How to Keep Your Plants Happy with Better Soil
Did you know that the number one cause of struggling plants is poor soil? Healthy soil and good soil preparation is important so that plants have the right balance of all things needed for optimal growth. Plants need the right balance of air, water, and nutrients. You’ll want to make sure your soil is healthy prior to planting, if possible. In Oklahoma, many of us have clay soil which isn’t ideal for a vegetable or flower garden.
Read on to find out how you can keep your plants happy by bettering your soil.
THE 3 MAIN TYPES OF SOIL
Soils come in three main types with several variations in between:
Sandy Soils- Sandy soils are composed of mostly large mineral particles. Water passes through the particles quickly and leaches nutrients as it does so. Sandy soils are well-aerated but lack the nutrients necessary for vegetable production.
Clay Soils- Clay soils are made up of mostly tiny particles that pack tightly together and hold water like a bowl. These soils are slow draining and slow to dry out.
Loam Soils- Loam soils are a mixture of large and small particles that contain lots of organic matter. Loamy soil is well-aerated, drains well, and holds water and nutrients.
To read more about soil and soil testing in Oklahoma, check out this information from the City of OKC: KNOW YOUR SOIL.
ADDING ORGANIC MATTER TO SOIL
Grab a handful of soil to see what kind of soil you have. Sandy soil falls apart. Clay soil will ooze through your fingers and will ball up in a slippery wad. Loamy soil usually stays together when you squeeze it, but falls apart easily if prodded or poked, kind of like a memory foam pillow.
If you’re living in Oklahoma, your garden probably doesn't have the ideal amount of loam soil. To fix clay or sandy soil, you need to add organic matter. Organic matter also helps increase the water- and nutrient retention of your soil. Adding organic matter makes your soil more loamy and is much better for your plants.
Here are some good sources of organic matter:
-Homemade compost
-Bagged compost
-Old sawdust
-Leaf mold
-Decomposed grass clippings
To find out more about adding organic matter to your soil, check out this article from the University of Michigan’s Horticultural Department: Organic Matters: Feeding the Soil and Building Soil Quality
Our Screened Rich Mix
OUR SOILS
At Metro Materials Oklahoma, we offer topsoil, screened topsoil, and screened rich mix.
Our screened rich mix is a pulverized and screened soil blend composed of topsoil, forest compost, and clean sand. It’s perfect for initiating growth in flower beds, gardens, and for general landscaping.
Click here to find out more about the soils we offer.
HOW MUCH SOIL DO I NEED?
Use our handy calculator to find out how much limestone screening you’ll need.
NEED TOPSOIL OR SCREENED RICH MIX SOIL DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME FOR YOUR SPRING GARDEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY?
We deliver topsoil, screened topsoil, and screen rich mix soils directly to your door.
Call Metro Materials of Oklahoma today for more information or click here for pricing on materials delivered to the South OKC metro area, including Moore and Norman. You can also use our simple order form here.