When setting up a garden or planting flower arrangements in pots, the most important thing to enjoy a satisfactory result later is the right choice of soil. Because each plant prefers different growth conditions. We can choose the types of soil by looking at the pH, and also because of the permeability and its fertility. With our guide you will choose the right type of soil for each type of plant.
Contents:
- Garden soil for flowers
- What soil for hydrangeas?
- What kind of soil for garden yucca?
- Soil under the lawn
- Soil for vegetables
- How to check soil pH
- How much does the garden soil weigh?
- How much does garden soil cost?
Garden soil for flowers
In order for the flowers to stand out with their sumptuous and colorful inflorescences, it is important to choose the right soil. Flowers, depending on the species, most often need a fertile soil with a neutral pH. Some flowers, such as garden hydrangeas, like the soil to be acidic. In order to choose the right type, it is worth finding out from the seller what conditions must be met for a given specimen in order for it to grow quickly and flourish every season. Sometimes, in addition to the pH of the soil, its permeability also depends, i.e. whether the soil retains water or not, and its content in minerals.Some types of plants, like thujas, like soil that keeps the soil moist for some time.Garden juka, on the other hand, likes soil that is completely drained. Lavender garden likes permeable soil, very calcareous.If we have a problem with the nutritional value of the soil, we can sprinkle flowers with appropriate fertilizers.
Why does mold appear in the potting soil?
The reason for the appearance of mold is excessive substrate moisture, which is the result of inadequate plant care. Most often it is associated with too frequent and abundant watering, the lack of drainage holes in the pot, poor drainage of the substrate, water in the casing, excessive air humidity, too low temperature and not very airy and shaded position.
- says Dr. Eng. Tomasz Mróz
What soil for hydrangeas?
The key to success in the cultivation of garden hydrangea is a properly selected type of soil. Wrong choice of substrate will clearly affect the appearance of the flowers.Hydrangeas should be grown in light, fertile soil, rich in nutrients and humus. Additionally, the soil should be permeable, well-drained and constantly slightly moist.Sandy clay soils with a slightly acidic or acidic reaction are the best choice. The correct pH for a hydrangea soil should be up to pH 7. Interestingly, the acidity of the soil influences the color of the potted hydrangea. An acidic reaction will give us a blue color of flowers, and an alkaline reaction will give us a pink color.
What kind of soil for garden yucca?
Garden yucca comes from the agave family. They do not like heavy and too moist soil. It is best to choose light and well-drained soil for the yucca.Yucca naturally grows in non-fertile soil with a slightly alkaline pH, so it is worth not to add peat and other additives that affect the acidic pH to the mixture of soils in which they will grow. If you do not have suitable soil for yucca because it is too loamy, you can easily mix it with coarse sand, which will greatly facilitate rooting for the plant. Yuki also like soil rich in calcium.
Soil under the lawn
The best type of soil for a lawn is black earth. It is permeable soil, enriched with the nutrients needed for the growth of grass and, moreover, has an optimal acidity.Grass grows best on slightly acidic soil, ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 pH.If you have clay soil, you can mix it with coarse sand. However, if we have sandy soil, we can mix it with peat. It is important to provide the grass with well-drained and fertile soil.
Soil for vegetables
The ideal soil for growing vegetables should not be too light or too compact.It should be permeable and airy, and also have a large absorption capacity . Of course, it is also important that it is fertile, contains humus and nutrients.
How to check soil pH
The soils are acidic, neutral or alkaline. The lower the pH is, the more acidic the earth is, and the higher it is, the more alkaline it is. The acidity level can be checked with a soil acid meter. It is a very simple device to use. Please note that we collect soil samples from several places, as the pH may vary in different parts of the garden.
Place the taken soil sample on the acid meter and pour Hellig's liquid over it. This liquid must react with the soil, so we have to wait for the result for about 3 minutes.After this time, we compare the color of the liquid with the scale marked on the plate. The entire user manual is included with the device.
The soil can also be tested at the Regional Chemical and Agricultural Station, but it will be more expensive than buying an acid meter yourself.
How much does the garden soil weigh?
Garden soil is an element of soil prepared especially for specific horticultural crops.Each type of soil has a different structure and density. This may make the clay appear to be heavier than sand.It was found, however, that 1 cubic meter of soil weighs approximately 1800 kg.Conversely, 1 ton of garden soil equals 555 cubic decimeters.
How much does garden soil cost?
Garden soil, depending on its type, has different prices.They range from several dozen zlotys per ton, up to several hundred zlotys.Of course, the more fertile the soil and rich in nutrients, the more expensive it will be. When buying soil in large quantities, remember that there will also be transport costs charged by the supplier. You can buy soil by tons and in bags, sold for 10.20 or 50 kg. A bag of garden soil usually costs from a few to a dozen or so zlotys. You can get it in most supermarkets and garden stores.
