How To Attain The Right Ph Balance In Your Soil For Perfect Landscaping
If you are of a mind to begin a garden there is one thing you must take into consideration. The Soil is the most important ingredient for growing great plants. You need to get a clear understanding of the top soil in your area in order to know what additives you will need for growing great plants.
Most people just start flinging fertilizer and other compounds on the lawn and in the flowerbeds. They do not have a clue, of course of the needs of that particular patch of ground. A soil analysis is the proper foundation for any gardener who wants to get the most out of their effort.
Soil should be tested each time you put in a new garden. If you have a garden that you love and no plans to change it then test every five years. The plants use up some minerals and the overall balance goes a bit astray.
If your lawn or plants are not doing as well as they should you should do a soil analysis. You can do it the hit or miss way and maybe just come up with the correct answer but a soil analysis will hit the nail on the head right away.
Not all plants respond the same in the same soil mix. For instance some plants need a higher pH than others do to be their blooming best. Know your plant then learn your soil. Take the hydrangea, it will not give you that beautiful blue bloom you're looking for if the soil has a very high pH.
The first step to getting a soil test is getting a good sample. Remove the vegetation from the surrounding area. Use a spade, shovel or soil auger to get a plug of about six inches in depth. Put the sample into a clean plastic baggie. You must avoid any areas that you have formerly used any type of chemicals on to get an accurate reading. You can take the sample to any University that has an extension service that offer testing will be a good place to take your sample. If that is not an option where you live, you can try Google and seek it local. Once you have found a lab in your vicinity get a soil testing kit from them. The kit has all you will need to obtain your sample. It also includes the instructions for proper submissions.
Once you have submitted your samples test will be done to determine the levels of the minerals and nutrients that are of benefit. It will also give you the pH level of the soil. Anything below 7 is acidic and above it is alkaline. Some times, adding water features like a bamboo fountain may improve the appearance of your yard, but it would still keep the pH level unchanged. Garden statues that serve as water sprinklers are new fad, and may be used to increase the alkalinity of your soil by using them to spray alkaline chemicals.
Knowing what type of soil you have will give you the edge for growing award winning plants and vegetables. Testing will give you a better idea of what type of fertilizer you should use for best results.
About the Author
Amy C. enjoys writing about gardening and landscaping. She works closely with Phoenix Landscaping service providers to learn about the latest trends and techniques in landscaping and gardening . To learn about landscaping Ideas, please visit Amy's http://landscapingphoenixaz.net and http://landscapescottsdale.net portal.
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