Perfect Soil

Perfect soil: Deep. Rich. Full of organic matter. Well-drained. And well-loosened. It’s a gardener’s dream.

Deep. We all have a line where our topsoil meets our subsoil. It’s where, as you dig, the soil changes color, usually from a darker brown or black to lighter brown, brownish-red, tan, or grey. The higher, darker soil is your topsoil; the lower, lighter, clayey or sandy soil is your subsoil. Great soil has a deep layer of topsoil, ideally two feet or more thick. But don’t be worried if you don’t have that much. Few of us do when we start. Instead, we work to build it over time.

Rich. Ideal topsoil is rich in nutrients and micronutrients. That is, it not only has the macronutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium but also plenty of the micronutrients (calcium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, etc.) that truly healthy plants need.

Full of Organic Matter.  Great soil is also full of organic matter—all of the dead plant material in your soil—in varied states of decay, and humus, which is completely broken down plant material and very beneficial. 

Well-drained. Most plants benefit from well-drained soil. Sitting in standing water—not only water sitting on top of the soil, but also water surrounding the roots a foot or even two, three, or four feet down—is quite detrimental to garden plants. Sure, they want water, but they can also partially suffocate or even completely drown. 

Well loosened.  Ideal garden soil is loose at least two feet deep. Well-loosened soil contains millions of tiny spaces between soil particles, making room for the movement of air and water that soil microbes and roots so desperately need. Additionally, these spaces make it easier for roots to grow, while also increasing the soils’ water-holding capacity and drainage and creating plenty of space for microbes to thrive.

Most of us have some general knowledge about each of these that we can build upon to become knowledgeable enough to become a gardener with two green thumbs. 

Let’s take a closer look at each.