Healthy Plants Start with Healthy Soil
By Ali Luhmann, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener Intern
The winter snow has arrived, and along with it the annual deluge of seed catalogs. Before you point-and-click your way to a cart of online seed and plant orders, however, it’s important to ensure they will thrive in the environment you provide for them. This starts with healthy soil.
Soil Analysis
Soil PH and composition vary widely across Anoka County, and these two factors will dictate whether you can grow acid-loving Fraser firs or the prairie natives that flourish in sand. As soon as the ground is workable, you should complete a soil test from the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Lab, especially if you are planning any new garden projects. Soil tests are recommended every three years, and your results will give you valuable insight into your soil PH and composition, so you can prepare your site for success. Knowing which nutrients your soil has an abundance of will prevent you from over-applying supplements, which can create runoff issues in our environment. Adding amendments to alter PH must be done well in advance of planting, so it’s crucial to put a soil test at the top of your spring chore list.
There are other important things you can do to improve your soil:
Applying compost is a great way to supply soil with broken down organic material that provides much needed nutrients.
Limiting chemical use is another way to maintain soil health. In addition to the pest or disease you’re trying to tackle, chemicals can destroy necessary organisms in the soil.
Rotating food crops is vital. Different plants provide and use different soil nutrients. By rotating crops, you’re ensuring that your soil isn’t depleted of the same nutrients season after season, as this would leave your garden more vulnerable to pests and disease.
Preventing Soil Loss
After completing your soil analysis and making any recommended amendments, you’ll want to preserve this valuable resource. It takes about 100 years to create an inch of topsoil, and in the Midwest, we’ve lost approximately one-third of our topsoil due to erosion. You can help to protect what you have by mulching and planting cover crops.
Mulch doesn’t necessarily need to be purchased; you can use straw, coffee grounds or compost in addition to the traditional shredded wood or crushed stone options.
Cover crops are another way to keep your topsoil in place, and the University of Minnesota Extension website has information to help you choose the right crop for your application.
While these strategies may sound daunting (and not nearly as much fun as planting), it only takes about 30 minutes to collect a soil sample and another 30 minutes to research the soil requirements for the plants you want to grow. Investing time and care in your soil’s health up front will benefit you and your garden for seasons to come.
For more information on healthy soil, visit the Living Soil & Healthy Garden page: https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/living-soil-healthy-garden
Save the date for the Home Landscape and Garden Fair on April 2, 2022 at Bunker Hills Activities Center in Andover, MN. For event registration and information about Anoka County Master Gardener projects and services, visit anokamastergardeners.org