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| Photo Credit: Annie Spiegelman |
| Professor Steven Andrews (a UC Berkeley soil scientist) goes by many names, including Soil Sommelier, Dirt Dude and Compost Connoisseur. | Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting in the front row of a class taught by Stephen Andrews, soil scientist and lecturer in Environmental Earth Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Also known as the Dirt Dude, Soil Sommelier, Mulch Maestro and Compost Connoisseur, Stephen exudes wholehearted admiration, adoration and the utmost respect for the soil microbes eating and partying underground like rock stars while they leave behind essential nutrients for plants. Today the Dirt Dude is going to answer some questions on the foundation of your garden’s soil. (He’ll make a soil worshipper out of you yet!) Why do you earth science geniuses get your knickers in a twist over dirt?Let’s go one thing straight, before we put a shovel in the ground: Dirt is the stuff that your nosey next door neighbor likes to dig up on you. Dirt is that stuff that has taken up residence in your carpet. Dirt is the stuff consumed haphazardly by your vacuum cleaner. Dirt is the stuff removed by your washing machine from your finest Smith & Hawken® gardening apparel. Dirt is not, however – emphasis on not – a growth medium for plants! That is the domain of soil.
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| Photo Credit: Courtesy of Organic Style Garden Tools |
| Soil is amazing: Just 1 teaspoon of forest soil can contain 10 billion bacteria. In other words: It’s alive! | Okay, soil scientist, why does soil matter, then?Well, for starters, it happens to be one of the most biologically productive ecosystems on planet Earth, the most neglected of our natural resources, and it’s all too often taken for granted. Soil is what sustains life on our planet. Sure, air and water are important. No doubt. But how long do you suppose you would survive on a diet of air and water alone? Soil deserves our utmost R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (Sing it to me, Aretha!) As a gardener, a measure of reverence wouldn’t hurt. The birth and death of civilizations has centered on soil and its health. Soil is part of the heritage of humanity. One teaspoon of forest soil can contain 10 billion bacteria! Soil is alive! Soil, unlike dirt, is a treasure. It matters – and it should matter to everyone. What should we do to look like good stewards of the earth (while we really just want to show off our English roses blooming on the garden fence)?The notion of having “bad” soil has more to do with us trying to reshape what occurred naturally via the process of soil formation. In short, there are really no bad soils, only soils that have had bad things done to them. Doing bad things to a soil include the addition of unnecessary or unsuitable amendments, the use of excess agrichemicals (fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides), excessive tillage (aka rototilling) and compaction. Don’t expect to have the Garden of Eden unless you’ve paid homage to your soil first! The mantra of home gardeners should be compost, compost, compost! Mulch, mulch, mulch!
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| Facts |
- Having organic matter (compost) decomposing on the soil helps with retaining soil moisture, supplying nutrients, enhancing aeration and soil structure, making soil easier to work and reducing soil erosion.
- The three main nutrients for healthy plants are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. You’ll see these on fertilizer containers as N-P-K. Nitrogen (N) is important in chlorophyll, giving plants their green color and good growth.
Phosphorous (P) encourages strong root development, disease resistance and helps in flower production. Potassium (K) enhances disease resistance, improves fruit size, texture and flavor, and helps in times of drought and plant stress.
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| Faqs |
- Q: Why test my soil?
A: With most home soil tests, you’ll be testing two critical things: the soil’s pH level and which nutrients are present (or needed) in your soil. The pH level will tell you if the nutrients present are actually available to your plants or if you’re just out there fertilizing, polluting and wasting your hard-earned cash on garden products. (By having it slightly acidic you have the best pH level for nutrient uptake.) You’ll also be testing for the levels of your soil’s macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Read More... - Q: How do I start home composting?
A: There are all kinds of ways to create your own compost. Some people use worm bins, in which special worms break down the “food” into usable compost. Others use compost bins or piles. Some methods are faster than others, some take more work from the gardener and others are more passive. Whichever method you choose, just compost, compost, compost – it’s good for your plants, as well as the soil and environment!
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