SuperchargeYourSoil: 6 Ways to AmendSoilin the Fall for the Ultimate Spring Garden.Making soilamendments in the fall is one of the best things you can do for your garden. spreading garden lime on soil Henadzi Pechan/Getty Images. If yoursoil is too acidic for what you want to grow, don't worry! You can amend this with lime. This ingredient will increase yoursoil's pH while also boosting beneficial nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Prepping yoursoilinfall is one of the best ways to ensure a thriving garden next season. Here’s how to get started: Add organic matter: Spread a layer of compost or well-rotted manure over your beds to enrich the soil with nutrients. Amendingyoursoil with organic matter and fertilizers can help to improve its fertility and promote healthy plant growth. Enhancing water retention: Soil that is heavy in clay or lacks organic matter can have poor water retention. Amend the Soil (If It Needs It!) Many organic or non-organic fertilizers release the nutrients slowly over months, so using them in the fall helps ensure the soil and amendments you’ve made will be ready for your plants next spring. Bone meal and green sand are great choices. In spring, amendyoursoil with a layer of compost, mixing it gently into the top few inches or applying it as mulch around plants. Infall, after removing spent crops, loosen the soil and incorporate a 3" to 4" layer of compost, followed by covering bare soil with shredded leaves or straw. Combining biochar with your fall compost creates a super-chargedsoilamendment. The porous structure absorbs nutrients from decomposing materials in your Minnesota compost pile. During those cold northern winters, this mixture will continue working its magic underground. 4 Essential Steps to SuperchargeYour Garden Soil for the Growing Season. Preparing your garden soil properly can make a huge difference in the health and productivity of your plants. When adding compost or amendments to soilin the fall, you are giving it time to break down and soak in all the nutrients, so it repairs itself and is ready and strong for planting. You'll save time during the busy planting season. Soil microbes are like the invisible workforce of your garden. They recycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and help protect plants from pests and diseases. By giving them fuel in the fall—whether it’s compost, shredded leaves, or manure—you’re basically priming the pump. How To Analyze Soil Nutrients. SoilAmendments For Clay Soil. Description. Struggling with poor soilin your garden? Whether it's too compacted, too sandy, or lacking nutrients, this guide will help you improve it! Identify yoursoil type: Loamy... The key to amendingsoil is about balancing the nutrients in the soil and adding amendments that encourage those nutrients to be used by plants. It’s important to remember that soil is not just dirt (in fact, some would say it is not dirt at all); rather, it is a microorganism teeming with life. Amending in the fall gives the organic matter all winter to break down further, integrate with the soil minerals, and allow microbial populations to establish.Yes, these are fantastic “premium” amendments that can superchargeyoursoil. I amended the soil with alfalfa meal and kelp meal. and incorporated small amounts of mushroom compost and worm casting. Yes, initially it was a LOT of work, but now, it is so relaxing and easy.
