As our gardens begin to shed their blanket of snow with the arrival of spring one realizes it’s been a long winter. If you didn’t put your garden to “sleep” with a topdressing or mulch, you’re probably seeing “heaving” -- the soils lifting with the constant freezing and thawing of water as it permeates through the soil. It’s a reminder that we shouldn’t work the soil preparing for bedding plants until conditions are dry and the soil is ready -- “friable” to use a farmer’s terminology.
In the upcoming weeks, as days become longer we’ll begin seeing the subtle nuances as spring unravels. Those gardeners with the insight to have planted bulbs last fall will begin to see the small green shoots of crocus as they peep through the ground. Buds on the early flowering trees and shrubs will begin to swell, canes from forsythia will display some color, and here and there birds will appear. It truly is a wondrous time to be outdoors. The beauty of urban horticulture is that often we have a longer season -- a direct result of thermal heat, reduced winds and the ability to supply supplemental irrigation.
We gardeners have to keep many things in mind – one important example is the ph, or acid level, of soil. Different garden crops -- annuals, evergreens, roses -- all have a comfortable ph range for the best yield. To determine your soil’s ph level, simply take a soil sample to your garden center, or call Cooperative Extension for help. Most garden centers also sell field soil testing kits that are easy to use, I think that these are as essential a tool as a spade or hoe.
Why is soil ph so important?
Soil is a dynamic medium. It is made up of particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter, which produces different levels of ph. You can invest in the most expensive fertilizer, but if the ph isn’t correct you won’t achieve the best results. Grasses, for example, seem to do better in a soil that has a ph range from 6.2 to 6.5 -- in order to grow optimum turf, we should try to have the soil ph as close to that range as we can.
Comment or questions? Call Bay Currents at 347-492-4432, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or write to Bay Currents, Urban Hort, 2966 Avenue U, Suite 108, Brooklyn, NY 11229
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