Forever Young Magazine

June 2007
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Section: Home & Garden

It’s Not Dirt — it’s Soil!
By Carol Ann Harlos

Carol Ann Harlos

I absolutely love to go out and work in the garden, and watching the changes that are occurring with the plants. But I also am interested in the soil itself. Soil is absolutely fascinating. Contrary to what ads for pesticides tell us, soil should be naturally alive with earthworms, bacteria, fungi, insects, and other arthropods. Go out and grab a handful of soil. Pay attention to it. Look, touch, smell it. You should notice color, texture, soil particle size, moisture, perhaps some pupa cases, some larvae, some ants, and hopefully lots of earthworms. Does the soil smell good? It should have a nice earthy smell. If you have ever had a plant in an oversized pot and the soil soured, you know the difference in smells.

If you are interested in learning more about the composition of your soil in a given area of your property you can take a sample from the top foot of soil. Put the soil sample into a transparent jar, and add a pint of water. Shake to mix the soil sample and the water together. Put the jar into a place where you can easily observe it but not disturb it. The material in your soil will gradually settle out into layers, depending on the size of the particulate matter that make up the soil. This can take some time, up to a day or so. Sand will settle out first and most quickly. Gradually silt will settle on top of the sand. Other parts of the soil will take much longer. Organic material such as bits of worm castings, bits of leaves, and so forth will float on the top of the water. The smallest particles are clay, and they don’t settle out but stay in the water. When you are sure that the settling is complete you can measure the thickness of each layer. In ideal soil, organic matter makes up at least 10 percent, clay no more than 30 percent, followed by sand and silt in roughly equal amounts. This gives you an easy way to learn something about the structure of your soil. Is clay a problem? DO NOT add sand to clay soil unless you are interested in making concrete. Add compost instead, and over time the soil structure will improve.

Unsure about the nutrient content of your soil? Look for soil clinics sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension. If you desire, make use of soil pH and mineral test kits which can be purchased at most nurseries.

Is there moss growing on the surface of the soil? Moss growth indicates excess moisture and acid soil — it does no harm. You may want to plant acid-loving plants that like lots of moisture, such as European or North American ferns or other woodland plants.

Now suppose you have only been adding commercial fertilizers to your soil over the past few years because you wish to help certain plants grow. Maybe these plants were successful for a short period of time. Adding all those fertilizers indiscriminately actually changes the soil as the wonderful critters who live there either die, reproduce poorly, or go elsewhere. Wouldn’t you leave if your environment was drastically altered?

Instead, add organic material or compost tea. I hesitate to suggest peat moss as a soil amendment. Peat moss frequently forms a mat on top which prevents water from getting into the soil or it can also retain too much water. In time it also lowers the pH of the soil which may not be your intention.

I love hearing from you: carolann2@adelphia.net

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