Purposeful Gardening
The last thing most novice gardeners tend to think about when drawing up new projects is the purpose of the space their planning to utilize. Picture a young couple walking through the aisles, confidently filling their basket with beautiful spring color and a few flowering shrubs, then heading for the checkout line. A cashier asks them if they’d like to purchase any packaged soils, and motions to a list of ten seemingly interchangeable products. The man says, “we just need some fresh dirt… a bit for the garden bed and more for the fence line… give me ten bags of topsoil”. The man takes the receipt, and they head out the door
In this example, the couple knew they wanted color and shrubs. They even knew the specific locations in the yard where the plants would go. However, when it came to the foundation of those projects – the soil composition – the couple had not given it a thought. The couple believed the purpose of the project was to throw down some dirt and grow beautiful flowering plants. With the soil they purchased, I am unconvinced that will happen.
That’s because growing vibrant annuals and shrubs is more akin to a goal for this project, while the purpose is to create an environment in which those goals are most easily achieved.
With our new definition of purpose, we can look at the goals of the couple’s project in isolation. Digging up a new plot for annuals means (incase you didn’t know) you’ll need to remove the native soil and replace it with nutrient rich, organic garden soil. These plants only last a season, so in order to achieve our goal of beautiful flowers you’ll need to create a miniature ecosystem designed around these plant’s needs. There is not enough time for them to adjust to the soil composition of your yard. If these plants require so many conditions to be hospitable, we can conclude they are high maintenance, or delicate. In that scenario, the upkeep, drainage, and watering levels all can have huge consequences. The couple cannot get annuals to thrive by patting down some generic brand topsoil.
Choosing the wrong tools or foundation for a project is often due to lacking the understanding of the purpose for that project.
This is starting to sound a bit like jargon, but I promise it is all around us. Our example of a couple needing soil for a few shrubs by the fence line can be analyzed in a similar fashion. Shrubs and most hedge plants can be categorized as perennial, deciduous, or evergreen. Simply put, these plants are meant to last for years, not a season. The root systems will need to expand relatively far from the plant and be tough enough to cut through native, nutrient depleted soil. These contextual clues point us towards an almost opposite purpose for this portion of the project: we must train the shrubs to thrive in native soils. We are not creating anything new for hardy perennial shrubs, but instead giving it the tools to adjust and eventually thrive right where we plant it. Most Soil conditioners and some topsoil brands add organic material to their soil blends but still recommend using one-part native soil when putting down new plants. This is because bagged topsoil and soil conditioners are less dense than native soils. If one were to dig a hole, put down a shrub, then fill the hole with topsoil, the roots would not adjust to the more tightly compacted soil that surround the hole. This creates a “ground bowl” that stunts plant development. The bowl effect can also lead to improper drainage of water as it passes through and sits within the less dense topsoil. Two different purposes for this project meant a variety of approaches would deliver the best results.
I introduced the concept “purposeful gardening” to describe the preparation phase of building any garden plot or hole. Determining the purpose of your project will help immensely once you move onto purchasing the soil (tools). Let’s take a closer look at the different types of soils and soil mixes, as well as a few hidden gems you need to start using in your garden bed TODAY!
Soil Conditioner: Most people get that soil conditioner is not a replacement for native dirt in your yard, yet it is often used in wild proportions. Soil conditioner is a “less is more” type of product. The mixture is lofty (loose) and adds vital organic materials as well as chemical enhancers to the soil. This means the best use-case is especially tough, nutrient depleted dirt. In this scenario, one would take about 1 part soil conditioner for every 3 parts of native dirt and thoroughly mix. The effects are almost immediate and will most notably include a better established root system. This is because your plants will have an easier time stretching their roots through less compacted soil.
Topsoil: In a similar vein, topsoil is not meant to replace your native dirt. Topsoil in most respects is seen as a less expensive alternative to soil conditioners. Many topsoil brands tout the organic qualities of their mixtures as being more environmentally friendly. The usual ingredients include sand, compost, and manure. Other ingredients vary between different brands, manufacturers, and even regions. So too does their effectiveness. The most common use-case for topsoil is filling holes in a yard before placing sod and for reintroducing nutrients before planting larger shrubs and trees in less-than-ideal native soil compositions. Use in 1 part per 3 just like soil conditioner when mixing with native soil.
(Organic) Garden Soil: Garden soil is the first on our list meant to replace the native dirt in your garden bed. There are no mixing calculations going on here. The bag has everything a plant could need to grow to it’s fullest potential (barring high-grade chemical fertilizer). I’ve heard many assumptions that this is best for edible gardening, but it works perfectly well for hanging baskets, window boxes, ornamental shrubs, or your annuals. For the best results, go to your local garden center! Organic garden soil is usually made for use in specific zones, meaning a bag ordered online could give you worse results.
Potting Soil: The purpose behind potting soil is in the name itself! Each mixture is different, but all contain ingredients meant to help roots prosper and keep water from holding in the soil. Potted plants are extremely susceptible to root rot because of bad drainage throughout the soil. Potting soil, while also aiming to make your plants look healthy and vibrant, must ensure water moves easily out the bottom of the pot. Similar to garden soil, you don’t need to worry about mixing. Just pour this stuff right in and you’re ready to rock.
Many potting soil blends have what’s known as a “slow-release fertilizer”. Although it wont harm the plants, it’s usually best to purchase fertilizer separately to ensure the best results.
Beau Mutrie
