Why Soil Is The Most Important Part of Your Garden

You need healthy soil for gardening from a ground supply company that can guarantee the soils they offer are top quality. If you really want a great garden this year, set your seedlings aside for a couple of weeks and feed your soil. What makes up healthy soil? Healthy soil is comprised of 5% organic matter, 25% air, 25% water, and 45% minerals. Much of the “soil” around our homes is just nutrient-starved dirt. Your gardening project deserves the best soil so you can grow healthy fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants. When you purchase soil for gardening from a landscape supply business, you can rest assured you are using clean and rich dirt and soils that are also free of debris. You want soil for gardening that is sourced locally and is conducive to your environment.

What Is Topsoil?

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5–10 inches. It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth’s biological soil activity occurs. Topsoil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air. It is the perfect place for many kinds of plants to take root, grow, and thrive. Topsoil will be a deep shade of black.

What Organic Matter Is In Soil?

If you’re an organic gardener, you’re used to buying and using organic products for your garden. But what about the soil itself? What exactly is organic soil? Simply put, organic soil is derived from living matter — it’s naturally amended by the decomposition over time of plants and even animals. Material like mulch, dropped leaves, manure, and natural compost all add to the nutrients in organic soil. Think of a forest bed with its rich soil that supports a wide variety of healthy plant life… that soil got that way over years of Mother Nature dropping leaves and bark, animals leaving manure, and decaying plant and animal life slowly breaking down. When you want a completely organic garden, you want to use certified organic compost to add beneficial nutrients and soil microbes to your soil.

Types of Soil

Different plants need different types of support from their soil, so it’s important to determine what you’ll be planting before you pick out the corresponding soil. There are three components of soil: sand, clay, and silt. Most soil is a combination of these three. Depending on your region, your soil may be sandier or have more clay. Perform a “feel test” to give you an idea of what kind of soil is most prominent on your property.

Moisten a tablespoon of soil and roll it into a small ball.
If the ball packs together and is moldable, your soil contains clay.
If you can form a 2 to 3-inch ribbon with your ball of soil, you have very high clay content.
If the ribbon falls apart or feels gritty, you have a mix of clay and sand.
If the soil ball will not hold together regardless of how much water you add, and it feels a little gritty, it’s sandy soil.

Use a Local Alternative for Soil Rather Than Soil From Big Box Stores

In considering the different soil options, it’s important to calculate how much you need, understand costs, and think about the logistics of having it delivered. You will likely find that buying soil, compost, or mulch in bulk is quicker, cheaper, and, ultimately, the right decision for you. When you want high-quality soil you need to seek a local alternative instead of large chain stores. You will be able to deal with a knowledgeable person who can inform you about the type of soil you need. The beauty of purchasing locally is that you get the customer service, attention and devotion only a local supplier can give you.

Bray Topsoil & Gravel can deliver our gravel and topsoil to you in the Greater Cincinnati Area!

Request a Quote (859-635-5680) And We Will Contact You Shortly!
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