healthy soil

Deciding on Raised Beds or In-Ground Gardening

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Dr. David Berle and Robert Westerfield of UGA have created a series of publications on community/school gardens.  One of the most popular circulars is Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens.  It is an excellent resource when determining whether or not raised beds would work for your garden.

The height of these beds is helpful for the senior gardeners at Tobie Grant Manor garden.
The height of these beds is helpful for the senior gardeners at Tobie Grant Manor garden.

Raised beds are defined as elevated boxes that are manageable in size and are filled with enough soil to support plants without using the soil underneath the box.  The height of the boxes can vary.  Tall boxes can be very beneficial to senior gardeners who are more comfortable working while standing instead of knelling down.  When dealing with native soil of questionable quality, raised beds with imported soil are an easy solution.

Some other advantages of raised beds are:

  • Prevention of soil compaction- raised boxes can limit foot traffic on the soil
  • Less weeding and maintenance
  • Reduced conflict – raised beds are very defined and easy to assign to participating gardeners
  • Better drainage
  • Extended garden area – raised beds can be placed on slopes, compacted soil, and even parking lots
The in-ground gardens at Woodstock Community Garden make it easy for a tiller to work the soil.
The in-ground gardens at Woodstock Community Garden make it easy for a tiller to work the soil.

There are advantages to in-ground gardens.  Raised bed materials can be costly for a garden group just starting and in-ground gardening can allow a tractor or tiller to easily help prepare the area.  Other advantages include:

  • Use of existing soil
  • Less permanent – if the landowner deems the garden temporary or for good crop rotation
  • Easier irrigation
  • Less start-up work
  • Clay soils do have benefits that are not found in man-made soils

As you start, or change, your garden carefully consider which arrangement will work for your group.  Consider your current and future needs and decide how much time and resources you all are willing to commit.  Your local UGA Extension office is a great resource for help.

Happy Gardening!

Soil Facts for Every Georgia Gardener

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Experienced gardeners realize that the success of their gardens starts with healthy soil.  But, what does healthy soil really look like?  Here is a snapshot:

Healthy soil is full of organisms

Soil is not inert; it is full of living organisms that are important in the soil ecosystem.  Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and earthworms are all essential in healthy soil.  Most of these organisms cannot be seen with  the naked eye.  A virus is only 0.03 to 0.02 micrometers in width while a much larger earthworm can be an indication of soil health.   To compare the size of soil organisms visit Cells Alive.  Researching these soil residents would be a fun thing to do in the cold days of winter.

Healthy garden soil has a pH of 6 to 7

pH is the measure of hydrogen ion concentration.  In the soil it is a part of complex chemical interactions.  Simply put, soil nutrients are not available for the plant roots to absorb at high and low pHs.  Have your soil tested regularly to determine your soil pH and get advice on how to correct it if needed.

Soil with compost

Compost is important

Organic matter assists desired soil chemistry, improves soil texture, can add nutrition to the soil, and can aid in the increasing the microorganisms.  Making your own compost can be a very rewarding way to use garden scraps.  This could be a great goal for 2017.

Soil chemistry and the soil ecosystem are complicated and intricate topics.  Check with your local UGA Cooperative Extension office to see what soil workshops are being offered this winter.  During the first part of 2017 we are going to do several in-depth posts about healthy soil on this blog.  We hope you will be a part of the discussion.

Happy Gardening!

December 5th is World Soil Day

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December 5th is World Soil Day

Celebrate World Soil Day

December 5th is World Soil Day
Healthy soil at the Ugarden in Athens

December 5th is World Soil Day, a fitting end to 2015’s International Year of Soil.

The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations implemented the program, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The goal of the project was to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.  Your local UGA Cooperative Extension office probably offered a class on soil health or composting during the year.  There were several offered in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area.

Healthy Soil Resources

Want to challenge yourself on soil trivia?  Take the soil quiz from the International Year of Soils website.  Want more information on composting and healthy soil?  See UGA’s Composing and Mulching publication or visit Food Well Alliance’s healthy soil resources.

Finally, Gregor Skoberne created this YouTube video on worms making compost.  This video will make you really appreciate the process of making compost and healthy soil.

 

Happy Gardening!

Healthy Georgia Soil 101

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Soil From a Community Garden in Woodstock.
Soil From a Community Garden in Woodstock.

Healthy plants start with healthy soil.  Period. No exceptions. You will be more happy with yields and vegetable quality if you start with good soil.  You will deal with frustration and possibly more disease and pest problems if you ignore your soil.

Soil is NOT just dirt.  It is alive and complex.  It is a relationship of soil minerals, organic matter, organisms, water, air, and plants.  The mineral component is made up of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay.  Organic matter is important as it contributes to moisture and nutrient retention.  Soil is a habitat for fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, protozoa, nematode, and earthworms and small mammals.  All this is important to the health of your plants.

Sometimes cities and municipalities donate land for community gardens that may have been undesirable for other uses.  Do you know what the land was used for before your garden was started?  A site that was previously used for manufacturing could have lingering by-products in the soil that could be a problem.

Many times community gardeners use raised beds and import soil and compost.  Know where that soil or compost comes from.  One community garden got a large amount of horse manure donated.  That manure contained herbicide residue that affected the tomatoes the gardeners tried to grow.   Also, soil that has been sterilized is void of desirable microorganisms.  Consider adding a compost pile to your garden (see June 25th post – Composting in the Community Garden).

Soil Sample Bag
Soil Sample Bag

If you have not been happy with the quality of your plants, the first step is to get your soil tested.  You can get information on soil testing from your local UGA Extension Office.  Instructions can be found in the publication Soil Testing.  In general, take a few sub-samples of your soil at a six inch depth.  Mix these sub-samples for an overall sample.  When you submit this to your Extension office it goes to the University of Georgia soil testing laboratory and within a couple of weeks you will get a test result page with information on your soil fertility and pH.  You will also get recommendations on how to improve your soil based on what you are growing.  There is a small fee (approximately $6-8)  involved but it is the best investment you will make!  Also, depending on the size and layout of your garden, not everyone in your garden needs to soil test.

Just think of all the things at work in your soil.  You will never call it “dirt” again!

Happy Gardening!