The Importance of Healthy Soil for Your Lawn, Garden, and Landscape
Life starts at the roots. When your soil is packed with the proper nutrients, your trees and plants can thrive. The arborists at 770-Tree-Guy recommend caring for your soil proactively to keep your whole yard healthy.
Steps for your Soil’s Health
- Do Soil Testing — Soil is healthy when it has the correct balance of elements to feed your plants. For example, Nitrogen deficiency in your soil could cause your plants to experience stunted growth. If there is an excess of nitrogen, your plants will look lush, but they will not produce flowers and fruit properly. In addition, too much Nitrogen is proven to weaken root structure. Therefore, soil testing is beneficial because it will tell you about the pH, texture, nutrient makeup, and organic matter that is present in your soil. Once you know the condition of your soil, you can work to resolve anything out of balance. Soil test kits can be purchased online or are available through your county’s agriculture and environmental department.
- Adjust Accordingly — Once you know the makeup of your soil, you can make amendments to ensure your soil is healthy and balanced. Although you can use store-bought fertilizers, we recommend sticking with organic sources whenever possible. It is important to note that fertilizers can utilize chemicals or additives. If you need help finding organic matter for your soil, reach out to our team. We are happy to offer support!
- Help your Soil Get Water and Air — Even soil with the perfect nutrient makeup will not thrive without the proper airflow and water. If soil is compacted, it will be deprived of water and air. Trees and plants get their nutrients from their roots. Roots absorb nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when your soil is compacted, your plants and trees will suffer too. With Georgia’s soil composition of red clay, annual aeration is a wise plan. Aeration allows for water and air to penetrate the soil properly, so your plants’ roots can access the nutrients they need.
- Cover it with Mulch — Mulch is the single best decision you can make for your yard. There are many benefits for your trees and plants, including infusing your soil with nutrients as it breaks down, protecting your soil from the harsh sun, preventing weed growth, and more. After years of advocating the benefits of mulch, we took our passion for mulch to the next level and started making our own. The team at 770-Tree-Guy recycles green waste into high-quality, locally sourced, organic mulch. Our mulch comes in various colors to suit every landscape. At 770-Tree-Guy, we deliver the mulch and implement it throughout your yard or allow you to purchase the mulch and apply it yourself. Mulch should be three inches deep and in a donut shape around the base of your tree or shrub. We recommend never building up mulch around the base of a tree because it can encourage disease. It is important to note that sometimes mulch can be too much of a good thing. Do not layer it any thicker than three inches. Mulch thicker than three inches restricts the needed airflow.
If you are ready to transform your yard, consider starting with your soil! Healthy soil will lead to healthy trees and plants. The arborists at 770-Tree-Guy are standing by if you need help.
