How to choose the right soil?

Most people think of soil simply as a 'finger' or 'mud', but to the gardener it is a living system. When buying soil for your new yard or flower beds, you're not just buying stuffing, and life support for your plants. Cheap "chernozem" is often offered in advertisements, which turns out to be an ordinary excavation of construction soil - devoid of nutrients and full of weeds. In this article, we will tell you honestly what to pay attention to, so you don't waste your money.

The myth of "chernozema" from the ads
The palm test: How to recognize good soil?
Peat vs Garden Soil - What's the Difference??
The perfect "recipe" for planting
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion

The myth of "chernozema" from the ads

Everyone has seen ads for "cheap chernozem". The problem is, that real chernozem is a valuable resource and is rarely sold as such. Often this, which arrives, is a surface layer (full of herbicides and weed seeds) or, even worse - dead soil from deep excavations. Such soil is compact, it doesn't let air in and your plants will literally suffocate in it.

The palm test: How to recognize good soil?

You don't need a lab, to understand what you are buying. Take a handful of soil, wet it slightly and squeeze it in a fist:

If it falls apart immediately: It's too sandy. The water will flow through it like a sieve.
If it becomes a hard ball like plasticine: There is too much clay. The roots will rot in it.
The ideal soil: He has to make a ball, which crumbles into small crumbs when lightly touched with a finger. That's what it means, that there is also food, and air.

Peat vs Garden Soil - What's the Difference??

The peat (usually in bags from big box stores) is light and clean, but he is not soil. It is "sterile". If you plant a tree only in peat, it will dry very quickly, because peat does not hold moisture for long. Always mix it with real garden soil and some sand.

The perfect "recipe" for planting

Rule when planting new plants:

1/3 from the original finger from the hole (for the plant to get used to the place).
1/3 quality compost or enriched peat (for "fuel").
1/3 fine sand or perlite (for the roots to breathe).

Frequently asked questions

1. Should I buy bagged soil for the whole yard??
Not, this is too expensive. Buy sacks only for the flower beds and pots. For large areas, look for a verified supplier of sifted humus soil.

2. Does the smell of the soil matter??
Yes! Good soil smells of forest and freshness. If it smells sour or rotten - there is no oxygen in it and it will kill your plants.

3. Can I use the old potting soil??
Better not. It is "eaten" - there are no nutrients left in it and it may contain pests from previous years.

Conclusion

The choice of soil is the moment, in which you decide whether your garden will be lush and green or perpetually sick. Don't skimp on the "basics". Invest in quality, loose and living soil, and the plants will thank you with growth, which will surprise you.

More professional advice at USEFUL