Gardening Secrets - How to Keep Your Gardening Tools and Soil Healthy

Gardening is important in many ways: for aesthetic beauty and environmental sustainability, stewardship of the land, healthy foods and exercise, mood-boosting substances and more. However, it's definitely not an easy task.

Learn how to take care of your raised garden, your plants and the environment. Learn about compost mulch, watering plants and other gardening tips.

Soil

Healthy plant growth is dependent on the quality of the soil in your lawns, flower beds, and gardens. All plants, no matter if they are shrubs, trees, annuals, perennials or fruit and vegetables need the right mix of oxygen, nutrients and water to flourish. Good soil will allow them to grow in a lush, healthy manner and will assist to fight off diseases and pests.

Minerals air, water, and organic substances (dead and living organisms) are the basic ingredients of soil. These are interconnected in a variety of ways, making soil one of the planet's most active and vital natural resources.

The mineral portion that is not consolidated is referred to as soil. It is composed of organic matter, gardening tips such as decaying leaves, roots, twigs, and animal remains. It consists of particles of different dimensions, called textures which determine its capacity to hold moisture and nutrients. Soil texture is usually determined by the ratio of silt, sand and clay. Loamy soil is a great general-purpose garden soil since it contains equal amounts of these three sizes of particles.

Healthy soil is populated with bacteria as well as fungi and microorganisms, which perform many of the chemical tasks required by plants. Microorganisms break down and transform chemical elements and compounds into forms that are accessible to the plants and allow them to absorb the nutrients they need.

The soil that is healthy is also porous, with the pore sizes ranging from just below the microscopic to several centimeters. This porosity allows water to easily pass through the soil layers, carrying essential nutrients with it. It is also a key element in determining the soil's ability to retain moisture and to drain quickly after rain or snowfall. Soils with a low pore count tend to be hard to work and dry, whereas soils with a high pore count are usually wet and dense.

Fertilizer

In order to grow strong, healthy plants, it is essential that they receive all the nutrients they require. Fertilizers are synthetic or natural substances that boost the growth and productiveness of plants by providing essential chemical elements. These compounds either increase the soil's natural fertility or replace chemical elements that were removed by previous crops.

Potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen are vital nutrients needed by all plants to grow and remain healthy. These are referred to as macronutrients, and they're the most important to a plant's overall health. A deficiency in any of these nutrients can lead to a variety of issues, including slow or spindly growth weak stems, weaker stems, less vibrant foliage and colors, and less flowers and fruit.

Fertilizers are available in a range of forms, and are developed to meet the requirements of different types of soil and plants. These include synthetic formulas which quickly convert organic fertilizers with a long-lasting effect. Some are specifically designed to be used on lawns and others are designed specifically for plants, vegetables, or flowers.

Be sure to read all instructions on the package prior to choosing a fertiliser. Do not apply more fertilizer than what the package recommends. Over-application of fertilizer can harm the soil, destroying microorganisms, and causing environmental harm. Over-fertilizing also causes pollution of waterways due to runoff.

If you're planning to plant design a garden lawn, garden beds or vegetable patch, using the right type of fertilizer is key to achieving great results. The right fertilizer will boost a plant’s production and increase its resistance to pests and diseases, and will reduce the need for chemical treatments.

There are a myriad of types of fertilizers, some even made specifically for certain plants, such as tomatoes or roses. When choosing a fertilizer look for the N-P-K ratio, which is a percentage of each nutrient present in the product. The higher the N-P-K value the more of each nutrient that is present in the product.

For the best results, make use of a granular fertilizer, like Proven Winners, that is slow-release and lasts up to six months. Mix it into the soil before planting, or water it in using a brass siphon mixer or Hoss Fertilizer Injector for easy application to individual plants.

Tools

With the right new gardening tools will make the entire process more enjoyable and easier. For instance, a soil tester is necessary to determine the best soil for each type of plant. It's also important to keep your gardening tools clean and in good operating condition. Storing your tools in a bucket of sand gardening tips or oil can aid in stopping them from rusting and keep their sharp and ready to work. It's a good idea to mix plants that complement each other.

Sabethe's Gardening Secrets can be obtained by finishing the Kitchen Tasks Quest in your village. You will be given one of Sabethe’s gardening secrets. This boost increases the chance of a bumper harvest when gardening.