Now’s the Time to Improve Your Garden Soil

 

Now that you’ve done your soil tests, how do you turn your high pH clay soil into something you can really grow in? 

You supplement your clay soil using soil amendments. What is a soil amendment? Soil amendments are products which help add organic material to the soil.

Adding organic material helps improve the structure of the soil, which allows better, stronger root development. Stronger root systems mean healthier plants and better yields in your vegetable garden.

Adding organic material also helps lower the soil ph. Soil pH is a measure of how “sweet” or “sour” our soils are. For most of us, our garden soils are alkaline (sweet) with high levels of ph. Our plants do better in neutral or more acidic soils, because they can better use the fertilizers and nutrients better when the pH is right. 

When it comes to choosing soil amendments, it’s important to use Colorado-based products that are specifically designed to work in our clay-based soils. That’s why we recommend and sell locally produced soil amendments and fertilizers from The Richlawn Company Organix Supply. For over forty years, The Richlawn Company has been crafting garden and lawn products specifically designed to work in our clay-heavy soils. 

Bagged soil amendments are convenient and consistent. The products within the bag are 100% organic and produced locally.

Our bagged Sheep, Peat and Compost contain aged sheep manure, peat moss and compost. Cow Manure is aged and screened dairy manure.

Natures Yield Organic Compost is EKO compost and sphagnum peat. 

How many bags do you need? A bag of Sheep, peat and compost will cover 10 square feet, 2” deep. Add up the square footage of your garden or raised beds, then calculate the number of bags you’ll need. A 100 square foot garden needs ten bags of compost to add 2” of organic material.  

Incorporating earthworm castings at this point will increase soil microbial activity and act as a mild fertilizer.  A 30-pound bag will cover that same 100 square feet, 1" deep. Typically, you’ll want to add 1" to 2" of organic worm castings to your soil each season.   

 

Take your bags home, open them up and put them in a pile. It’ll make it easier to mix all your ingredients together. So now we have this pile of amendments including a bag of Sheep, Peat and Compost, some coir, earthworm castings and we’re going to dig it all in about 50:50 with our native soil. You need your native clay to be part of the mix because clay tends to be nutrients rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. Amended clay also holds moisture well and doesn’t compact.  

Whether you’re dealing with an existing garden, a raised bed or starting a new vegetable garden, you should plan to amend your soil annually, spring and fall to keep it healthy.

For more specific questions, stop in and talk to us. We’ll help you select exactly what you need for your garden. 

 

 

Now’s the Time to Plant Cool Weather Crops

 

Cool season crops are the early risers of the garden world—they thrive in the gentle embrace of spring’s cooler temperatures and often manage to withstand light frosts. These crops perform best when soil temperatures are between about 40°F and 70°F, a range that helps them develop textures and flavors that many gardeners prize.  

Beets, broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, turnips like the cooler spring temperatures and can be planted from seed now, by direct sowing into your garden or raised bed.    

   

You can also plant broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach and many others from vegetable transplants, also known as starter plants. starts now, just be sure you harden them off before you plant them.   

 

You’ll get the best harvest if you do these things. First, select a site that will receive at least six hours of direct sun each day.  Check the soil to see if it’s workable. A quick way to check is to grab a fistful and squeeze it. If it crumbles the soil is ready to be worked.  

Next, pick some bags of Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost,

Fox Farm Bush Doctor Coco-Loco

and Wiggle Worm™ earthworm castings.

Take the bags home, dump them into a pile, mix it all together and add to your vegetable garden or raised bed. 

This is also a good time to add some organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers will carry the OMRI seal on the bag. OMRI stands for Organic Material Review Institute.

Products with the OMRI seal have gone through rigorous testing to assure the ingredients are organic. Put some in the bottom of each row or planting hole, so the roots of your new plants can grow into it. 

 

In addition to cool weather crops, onions and potatoes can also be planted now. Onions are planted from seed, sets and plants.  

When it comes to planting potatoes, egg-sized seed potatoes can be planted whole. Larger seed potatoes can be cut in half or quartered and then planted. Make sure you have at least one set of "eyes" on each piece you plant. Always select certified seed potatoes. Supermarket potatoes are often treated to prevent them from sprouting.  

 

 

While you're at it, plant some pansies and violas for color.