| New home construction leaves many homeowners frustrated with poor garden soil. While a few inches of black dirt is okay for lawns, gardens require 10-12 inches of well drained soil. Amending your garden area is a must for the best performance of any plant. Start by evaluating the existing soil. Clay is typical of the western suburbs. By adding peat, sand, compost, and black dirt you are on our way to a successful garden.
If you are having soil problems with an existing garden area, again, evaluate the site.
| SOIL TYPE |
|
AMENDMENT |
| Clay - rock hard when dry, sticky when wet, hard to work, does not drain |
|
Compost, manure, peat moss, sand, black dirt and saw dust. May require repeated applications of all. |
|
|
|
| Sand - grainy and crumbly, won't hold shape, easy to work, drains freely. |
|
Compost and manure to improve organic matter and to retain moisture. |
|
|
|
| Peat - lots of coarse organic mater, easy to work, holds moisture |
|
Sand, gravel or drain tile to improve drainage. |
|
|
|
| Loam - close to ideal soil, drains well, works easily |
|
Annual addition of compost to maintain soil structure and nutrition levels. |
|
|
|
Soil testing is available from the University of Minnesota Extension Office for a nominal fee.
|
