The Practical Gardener [antikvár]

Understandin your soilSoil - a complex mixture of disintegrated mineral rock, organic remains, air and bacteria - is literally the foundation on which any successful garden is built. Whether you grow flowers, grass, shrubs and ornamental trees, or vegetable and fruit crops, strong vigorous plants need good soil to thrive and perform well. Soils vary, however, and while fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained loam is considered ideal, most soils can benefit from basic improvement.Understanding your soil type is the key to this, and to choosing the most compatible plants. Simple soil-testing kits can assess acidity and alkalinity; other equally simple tests can determine soil texture and water content. From there, it's an easy step to correcting chemical imbalances and improving structure and drainage if necessary.All soils benefit from regular enrichment to maintain their fertility and moisture content. Bulky organic matter such as well rotted manure, garden compost, leaf mould and spent mushroom compost add both vital humus and food. These are environmentally far preferable to the heavy use of chemical fertilizers, which add nothing to soil structure and can build up to harmful levels in the soil. Slow-acting organic fertilizers such as bone meal are beneficial in moderation. Peat has no value as a fertilizer and is in very short supply. It should be used sparingly.Organic matter used as a surface cover, or mulch, provides extra benefits: mulched soil requires less weeding, and less watering in droughts. Mulch is also a natural insulator, keeping roots cool in summer and warm in winter.