Master Gardener^sm Column for the Week of January 28, 2002
Charlie Spencer
Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^sm Volunteer

Knowledge of garden soils and how to manage them is necessary if a garden is to be productive. Vegetables need full sunlight, as well as favorable amounts of moisture and plant food. They cannot compete with trees or other plants for sunlight, moisture, or nutrients. When planning a garden, avoid the vicinity of large trees, even though the vegetable would not be shaded to any great extent. When planting shrubs, trees, etc., the following recommendations also apply.

Nature of Soils
Ideal soil is fertile, deep, friable, well-drained, and high in organic matter. Heavy clay soils are late in drying out and are difficult to cultivate and work properly. Extremely sandy soils may lack organic matter and may dry out too rapidly between water application. The best soil is between these two extremes. The exact type of soil, however, is not as important if it is well drained, adequately supplied with organic matter, and retains moisture.

Soil Preparation
Thorough soil preparation is needed for growing all types of vegetation. The purpose in turning up soil and giving it various pulverizing treatments is to separate soil particles, to allow air to come in contact with as many particles as possible, and thereby to provide a favorable medium for roots. Soil must contain air to produce vegetation; also beneficial soil bacteria cannot live without it. Poorly drained soil has few air spaces and, therefore, it is unproductive.

The deeper the soil is prepared, the greater is its capacity for holding air and moisture. Soil should be plowed or spaded to a depth of at least 8 or 9 inches, provided the subsoil is not turned up. For larger shrubs, etc., larger holes are required.

Fall plowing or spreading is desirable if coarse organic material, heavy sod, or a heavy coat of manure is to be turned under. Organic matter decomposes during fall and early spring. This results in better soil conditions for early crops. Fall plowed ground left in the rough over winter dries out quickly so that the seedbed may be prepared and the garden planted early in the spring. Gardens should not be dug up and planted until the soil has sufficiently dried. Soil, when pressed tightly in the hand, should readily crumble when released. If it forms a compact, muddy mass, it is too wet to be worked. Heavy clay soils which are worked when they are wet, lose their crumbly texture, they become hard, compact, lumpy, and consequently unproductive. Several seasons of careful handling are often required to restore such a soil to normal condition and production. The same recommendations apply to shrubs, trees, etc.

The tilth, or physical condition, of the seedbed at planting time is important. Each soil has characteristics which determine the tilth best suited for planting. No soil should be worked to a fineness that will permit sealing over during rains. Some heavy garden soils should be left comparatively rough and cloddy to promote aeration and water penetration and reduce crusting of the soil surface.

Heavy soils low in organic matter and soils containing large amounts of very fine clay tend to harden and crust readily. Clay soils are resistant to changes in their structure; however, a small garden may be improved by application of coarse sand, cinders, or coal ashes. An inch or two of either coarse sand, cinder, or coal ashes can be worked into the topsoil in any one year. They improve drainage rate and work ability of clay soils, but are of limited value compared to organic matter. Organic matter is the method of choice for shrubs, etc.

A garden rotary tilling machine is an excellent means by which soil amendments (mentioned in previous paragraph) and organic materials can be incorporated into the garden soil. The best finishing or smoothing tool for the small garden is the iron rake. It is an excellent pulverizer and leveler. Rake stones and bits of rubbish to one side before planting. Use a shovel when adding amendments for planting shrubs, etc.

Send your gardening questions or comments to: Brunswick County Master Gardener Column, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, or call (910) 253-2610. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Answers may be printed in this column.

For further information or assistance, please e-mail:
Charlie Spencer, Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^smVolunteer

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Date Created 10/8/2002