It’s almost gardening season again, which means it’s time to make use of your “green thumb,” and start planting vegetables, flowers, herbs, and more for the spring and summer.
But whether you’re a veteran gardener or just trying your hand at gardening for the first time, you may be wondering if you need to take any steps to ensure your soil is ready for planting. Do you need to add nutrients to garden soil? Find out in this guide from The Soil King.
A Layer Of Mulch Is Enough If Your Soil Is Already In Good Shape
Organic mulch is a great option for adding more nutrients to your garden soil. If you’ve planted in your soil before and had good results, adding a layer of mulch in the spring will typically provide your soil with all the nutrients it needs.
We typically recommend woody mulch that consists mostly of tree bark and wood, as it will slowly rot and decay and release nutrients over time. This type of mulch is also less dense than mulch made from leaves and grass clippings, which could cause drainage problems.
Adding More Nutrients May Be Necessary In Some Cases
If you don’t know much about the soil you’re planting in, it may be a good idea to add some more nutrients through fertilizer. The three most important nutrients for plants are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Other nutrients that may be needed include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
All common garden fertilizers will contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in different ratios. The right ratio depends on your soil type and what you’re growing, so we recommend consulting with a pro at The Soil King to choose the proper fertilizer for your needs.
Compost Is The Best Way To Save On Soil Nutrients & Encourage Healthy Growth
We highly recommend creating your own compost to use in your garden. Fruit and vegetable trimmings, grass clippings, twigs, leaves, and all of the other organic matter from your home, property, and kitchen can be combined to create a nutrient-rich “superfood” for your garden.
Start composting this season, and soon you’ll have a plentiful supply of nutrients, and you can use compost instead of buying mulch, or purchasing fertilizer from garden supply stores.
Need More Information About Soil, Gardening & More? Come To The Soil King!
At The Soil King, we’re experts in gardening, lawn care, and landscaping. If you’re in need of supplies and advice to ensure that your garden grows strong and healthy this year, we’re here to help. Come into our store today, and get the assistance you need!