Soil Preparation
Soil Preparation
Organic gardening requires a long-term outlook with respect to soil preparation. In fact, the key to successful organic gardening is to feed the soil with organic matter, which feeds the plant, rather than to feed the plant with inorganic fertilizer as in conventional production. An ideal soil would have equal parts of sand, silt and clay, and contain about 5 percent organic matter. Most mineral soils in Georgia will have less than 2 percent organic matter and are rarely ideal. However, with work, most soils can be improved and made productive.
Because it takes a long-term outlook to build a good soil, don't be disappointed if your results are less than ideal the first year or two. New sites should have all plant matter removed or turned under. Areas with Bermuda sods or other invasive plants should have the plants removed to the compost pile (see composting) and the soil turned under to expose roots and rhizomes to desiccation. In addition, soil solarization (discussed further below) can help control these hard-to-control weeds.
Some soils may have hardpans, which are impervious layers several inches under the soil. These hardpans are often found on old farmland or new home sites where equipment has compacted the soil. In either case, these hardpans must be broken up. On clay soils this can be very difficult.
Conventional Garden Soil Preparation
For the vegetable garden soils should be turned to 10 to 12 inches deep. One method is to double dig the garden. Dig a trench 6 to 8 inches deep along one side of the garden, placing the soil on the outside edge of the garden. Then use a spade or garden fork to loosen the soil 6 inches deep at the bottom of the trench. Soil adjacent to the trench on the inside edge of the trench is moved to fill the existing trench, creating a new trench in its place. Again with a spade or garden fork, loosen soil in the bottom of this trench to a 6-inch depth. Continue in this fashion until the entire garden has been double dug. The soil from the first trench can then be moved into the last trench. This method of garden preparation will leave a deep turned soil but is very labor intensive. Alternatives include use of equipment such as tractor-mounted plows or a Rototiller set to the deepest depth. Organic matter should be added during this deep-turning process. If you do not make your own compost mushroom compost, composted cow manure, and Clay Cutter are available in bags or bulk.
Raised Bed Garden Soil Preparation
This is the type garden we recommend. What is a 'raised bed' garden? The 'raised' part means that the garden soil level is higher than the surrounding soil, and 'bed' implies size small enough to work without actually stepping on the bed. A bed should be no wider than 4' but can be as long as desired. The bed does not have to be enclosed or framed, however framing offers other opportunities. Raised bed gardens are perfect where space is limited.
SEE: Building a Raised Bed Garden
In either method organic matter in soil is important for two reasons. First, as it breaks down, it releases nutrients that crops can utilize, and second, it improves the water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the soil. The amount of organic matter to add varies with the chosen material, the type of soil, and weather conditions. For most gardens where there is heavy clay 500-1,000 pounds of organic matter per 1,000 square feet is a recommended rate - or 1/2 to 1 cubic yard per 1,000 square feet.
As an example, an acre of dry soil 6 inches deep weighs about 2 million pounds, which means that 1,000 square feet of soil to the same depth weighs approximately 46,000 pounds. If we wished to raise the organic matter of this soil 1 percent, we would have to add 460 pounds of organic matter. The amount of material required may actually be quite a bit more because most organic sources have a high water content, as much as 50 percent or more. In addition, many have high ash (nonorganic residues) content, as high as 25 percent or more. Organic matter with 50 percent water content and 25 percent ash would require 1,840 pounds applied to 1,000 square feet to raise the organic fraction of the soil 1 percent. This may be impractical both in terms of obtaining the necessary organic matter and the fact that organic matter must be added each year to sustain the increase. Low rates (200 pounds per 1,000 square feet) of organic matter can have a noticeable improvement in soil tilth. Additions of 500 to 1,000 pounds of organic matter per 1,000 square feet per year can have a beneficial effect on soil tilth and plant growth.
TIP:At a minimum, add organic matter to the garden soil in an 18" in diameter area, planting the plant in the center of the amended area.
See these other Organic Gardening categories:
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Click on an image or link to view a detailed Plant File for that Plant
(23) Plants Found. Showing 1 to 10 of 23.
Sources: The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service