{"id":949,"date":"2024-08-27T10:31:26","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/fultonag\/?p=949"},"modified":"2024-08-27T10:31:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:31:26","slug":"is-your-soil-healthy-most-home-gardeners-dont-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/fultonag\/2024\/08\/is-your-soil-healthy-most-home-gardeners-dont-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Soil Healthy? Most Home Gardeners Don\u2019t Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Rock Reed, Fulton County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer trainee<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is part of Garden Buzz, a series from Appen Media and the North Fulton Master Gardeners, where rotating columnists explore horticulture topics like herbs, insects, and wildlife conservation. Find all Garden Buzz articles here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you get healthy gardens and yards? It all starts with healthy soil! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How do we know if we have healthy soil? Just bring some soil to The University of Georgia (UGA) Extension office. They will have your soil tested to provide a report on the nutrients and pH of your soil and a detailed recommendation to improve the soil as needed. This report is an essential guide to maintaining healthy soil for whatever we want to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our yards and gardens need an annual or semiannual soil checkup. Our bodies deserve an annual checkup to make sure our organs are functioning as they should. Our swimming pools deserve a weekly checkup to make sure the chemical levels are balanced and microbiological organisms are in check. In the same way, our yards and gardens deserve the benefit of a soil check for optimal maintenance. Our plants will gather nutrients from the soil and produce color, fruits, strength, and structure that cannot be obtained from weak or deficient soil.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is healthy soil?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, healthy soil delivers structural support for the roots to grow and sustain the plant. Second, soil provides water and nutrients for your plants. The soil holds water and acts like a purification system as water passes through it. Healthy soil helps break down organic waste and recycles nutrients back to the environment. The soil also provides a habitat for beneficial microbes and animals. Finally, the soil is good for our ecology as it stores and releases beneficial gases like oxygen and nitrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most of us rarely consider how each mineral in our soil makes a difference in how healthy our plants are! Different plants use and need specific nutrients and soil acidity (pH). As an example, here are some common plants and their pH requirements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What do you get with a soil test from UGA Extension?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You will get a professional analysis of your soil, which will indicate the pH (a measurement of acidity and alkalinity) and the measurement of key elements in your soil.\u00a0Macronutrients are those that are required in larger amounts such as: nitrogen (N),\u00a0phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn).\u00a0Grass (sod) and garden areas should be sampled separately.\u00a0You will get a professional recommendation of what your soil needs and how to achieve it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you collect soil samples?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Note: You only need about 1 pint (2 cups) of soil for each area!<\/p>\n\n\n\n