Spring is a period of increased work for owners of gardens and garden plots. A propersoil cultivation in springhas a huge impact on the achieved results and crops. During this period, a series of cultivation treatments should be performed to improve the soil structure, fertilize it and supplement the minerals needed by plants for growth. These are such treatments as loosening, digging, weeding, fertilization and mulching. See when they are necessary and how to do them correctly.
Soil cultivation in spring
What cultivation treatments should be performed in spring depends on several factors, namely:
- soil properties and structures on the plot or in the garden,
- soil condition after winter (depending, among others, on weather conditions during winter),
- cultivation and fertilization works performed last autumn,
- destination, or what kind of plants we will grow
Depending on the above factors, you will have to perform or refrain from carrying out appropriate care treatments, the most important of which are:
- loosening the top layer or digging the soil to the appropriate depth,
- weeding,
- mulching,
- providing appropriate doses of fertilizers,
Spring cultivation treatments depending on the type of soil
One of the basic steps insoil cultivation in spring , aimed at improving the structure of the soil, is digging it. They are usually made to the depth of the spade (approx. 30 cm). This treatment, apart from numerous advantages, also has some negative effects.
Describing the advantages of this treatment, it should be noted thatdigging the soil in springallows for fragmentation, loosening and aeration of the soil, reduces the occurrence of soil pests and weeds and facilitates even mixing of mineral fertilizers and organic soil with garden soil.Performing this treatment also carries some risks, such as adverse environmental changes for beneficial organisms living in the soil (e.g. earthworms), extracting toxins present in the deeper layers of the soil to the surface, the possibility of faster rinsing valuable ingredients out of the reach of plant roots, and the short-term effect of loosening the soil, obtained by digging.When assessing the usefulness of this procedure, pay attention to the fact that in the natural environment (forests, meadows) plants develop properly, despite the fact that no one is turning the soil around them and cultivating them.
"Due to the above, although digging is necessary and extremely advantageous under certain conditions, this operation should be performed only when it is necessary. Whether this treatment is necessary depends primarily on the type of soil. Well, undeniably positive benefitssoil diggingbrings heavy, clay soils in the cultivation. Thanks to this treatment, we increase the airiness, bulk and permeability of the soil. However, it is worth performing this treatment mainly before the onset of winter, leaving the soil in the so-called sharp furrow (without fully inverting the furrow), thanks to which it will be exposed as much as possible to the structure-forming effect of frost. "
Digging the soilis also recommended for the preparation of unstructured soil for late sowing plants and after extremely unfavorable weather conditions in winter.Digging is also necessary if manure, green or lime fertilizers were applied in the spring. This treatment may also require the fight against weeds.
However, more generally,digging the soil in springis rather unfavorable, especially for light soils, as it dries them excessively. Therefore, let's follow the principle - the lighter the soil, the less loosening and the smaller their depth. Only superficialloosening the soil with a hoewill be much better than digging it deeper. After carrying out the spring loosening treatment, rake the soil as soon as possible to even its surface and reduce the evaporation surface.
Also remember that when growing some plants, it may be necessary to compact the top layer of soil. Otherwise, the settling soil may tear the plant roots. Therefore, if you were unable to loosen the soil in time before sowing (3 to 5 weeks), perform an artificial reconsolidation using a roller or a board.
Other treatments in soil cultivation in spring
Apart from digging and loosening the soil, an important role is playedsoil weedingIt is of particular importance in spring, because fighting weeds is easier the earlier we start it. Of course, when vegetables are sprouting on the beds, chemical methods of combating weeds are not an option. Between the rows of plants, weed seedlings are destroyed with various tools - grace, hoes and claws are helpful. It is a good idea to trim young weeds just below the soil surface with sharp, hardened steel tools. Remove the weeds remaining in the rows by hand, holding the cultivated plants with your hand so as not to tear them up with the weed. Weed remnants should be raked up. They can be added to the compost heap. Remember not to water the plants immediately after weeding the beds, as the small weeds that you have just cut the roots with will re-root.
A positive role in the fight against weeds is also played by mulching, which is another importantspring cultivation treatment , as well as the use of appropriate fertilizers.
