Garden Maintenance

Good soil is the key to the success of any gardening project. It ensures there are enough nutrients and the plants get the drainage they need. Different factors come into play depending the soil type. If you are new to gardening, here are some tips on garden care in Sydney, Australia.

Irrigation System

An important part of setting up and maintaining your garden is watering your plants, however you do not want to water them too little or too much. Water soaks into different soil at different speeds and knowing the different soil types will allow you to decide how much water your garden needs. Most irrigation systems will feature a guide on how often you need to water the garden. However, keep in mind that most irrigation maintenance systems provide more water than what your garden actually needs – make sure you make the necessary adjustments as required according to the type of soil that is used.

Clay Soil

If the soil in your garden becomes sticky when wet and is easy to roll into balls but attains the texture of granite when de-moisturised dry, that this clay soil. Clay soil requires little water as it is excellent at water retention. It is also very nutritious. As long as you take good care of your plants, they will thrive. Another feature of clay soil is that it warms up slowly during spring. Thus, it is perfect for vegetables that thrive in summer and other plants that bloom in warm weather. In saying this, you may also need to drain the soil to avoid water logging, which can wreak havoc on plants.

Sandy Soil

If your garden often dries out quickly and feels gritty even with shoes on, then it is sandy soil. It is easily cultivated since the texture is light and it warms up quite fast in the spring. However, the lightness also means that it does not retain nutrients very well. You will need fertiliser to ensure that your garden plants have the nutrients they need to thrive. Besides this, you will need mulch to ensure the plants retain water. Tulip bulbs thrive in sandy soil. This is also the case for most vegetable crops. Vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, and courgettes are commercially grown in sandy soil.

Silty Soil

If your garden’s soil has a soapy and soft feel when wet and holds moisture, this is silty soil. This soil is full of nutrients and its soft texture is easy to cultivate. Silty soil is ideal for growing a wide range of plants. However, you need to create drainage so that you avoid damaging the plants, as this soil type can be waterlogged with ease. This can be achieved by mixing organic matter, which helps to improve the structure of the soil and allows the soil to drain with ease. Climbing plants, shrubs and grass all thrive in silty soil. You will also find moisture-loving trees such as birch, cypress and willow thriving here. Most vegetables and fruit will also do quite well in this soil. However, for optimal garden care and health, you must remember to drain the soil.

Peaty Soil

Peaty soil can be tricky to handle. It is typically damp with a spongy texture. It is also acidic, which means it has few nutrients compared to soil with pH balance. In saying this, it often heats up quite fast in spring. Peaty soil has problems with retaining moisture – draining will ensure that plants flourish in it. To ensure plants perform well, this soil is mixed with organic matter. Shrubs like witch hazel and heather often do well in this type of soil. Vegetables such as legumes and brassicas also do well in this soil.

Chalky Soil

Chalky soil is comprised of large grains and often feels stony. This soil type drains with ease due to how loose it is. It also has an alkaline pH balance since it mainly consists of limestone – this can often stunt plant growth if not remedied. To ensure plants survive in this chalky soil you need to to fertilize as part of your lawn and garden maintenance. Besides this, you will need to add some humus to improve water retention and nutrition of the soil. Bulbs and shrubs do great in this type of soil, particularly for plants like Madonna lilies, pinks and lilacs. You can also plant beetroot, cabbage and spinach in chalky soil.

Loamy Soil

Loamy soil has been hailed as the best quality soil on our planet. It is a combination of clay, sand and silt. This gives it a fine texture and slight dampness when wet. The soil structure means that it drains adequately without losing nutrients. It is also easy to grow plants in this type of soil because of its texture and ability to absorb temperature quite fast in spring. In summer, loamy soil does not dry out. However, to ensure that its nutrients remain in abundance, this soil requires replenishment of organic compost, which also helps to reduce the acidity in the soil. Almost all types of garden plants do well in loamy soil.

How to Improve Your Soil

No matter the type of soil you have, there are a few basic garden care tips that can help to boost quality and performance. One thing you need to do is ensure you use organic matter occasionally and that you mix it in with the soil. Besides this, you need to ensure you drain the soil.

Balancing PH

If you notice that the plants in your garden struggle or they often turn yellow, you need to check the pH balance of the soil. The pH is the degree or indication of acidity or alkalinity. Both will affect how plants will perform in your garden soil. Soil can be either very acidic or very alkaline, no matter the soil type.

Talk to the Experts

You can do soil pH testing at home with a home toolkit, however if you want even better results you can speak to an expert. Maintain Me have an experienced workforce that will ensure you have a pristine garden, no matter the soil type. By involving experts, you can focus on other important aspects of your life, while they improve garden maintenance.