277 Comments / By /

The Silent Struggle: Terrible Soil at Your Doorstep

It’s time to shine a light on the often-overlooked, underrated hero beneath our feet and understand why building healthy soil should be our top priority for a vibrant and productive home oasis.

Picture this: You dream of a lush, green paradise right outside your window, yet your plants seem to be sighing rather than thriving. The culprit? Often, it’s the unsung hero – or rather, the unsung villain – beneath the surface. Many of us unknowingly grapple with terrible soil quality in our yards.

Why Soil Matters More Than You Think

  1. Root of the Issue: Healthy soil is the anchor for your plants. It provides the essential nutrients and water that plants need to flourish. Without a solid foundation, your green dreams might become a nightmare.
  2. Nutrient Bank: Think of soil as a nutrient bank. Poor soil equals a bankrupt garden. Building nutrient-rich soil sets the stage for a flourishing landscape, ensuring your plants have a constant supply of the goodies they crave.
  3. Water Wisdom: Good soil acts like a sponge, holding water and preventing runoff. It’s the key to efficient water use in your garden, helping you achieve that elusive balance between hydration and drainage. Think drought tolerant!
  4. Healthy Soil is Alive: Healthy soil is a bustling ecosystem. It teems with beneficial microbes, fungi, and tiny creatures that form a web of life beneath the surface. This ecosystem is the secret sauce to plant health, disease resistance, and overall garden resilience.

Why Building Soil Trumps Simply Improving It

  1. Starting from Scratch: Building on top allows you to create a brand-new layer of nutrient-rich soil, free from the limitations of the existing ground. It’s like giving your landscape a fresh canvas, helping you reimagine what’s possible.
  2. Depth for Roots to Delve: Many landscapes suffer from shallow soil, restricting the depth to which plant roots can explore. By adding layers on top, you provide your plants with a deeper, more hospitable environment for root expansion, leading to healthier and more robust vegetation.
  3. Overcoming Contamination: In residential settings, soil contamination is a common woe. Building on top provides a protective barrier, preventing plants from coming into direct contact with potentially harmful substances. It’s like creating a shield for your garden.
  4. Time-Effective Solution: Traditional methods of improving existing soil can take years to yield noticeable results. Building on top offers a quicker fix, allowing you to enjoy a thriving garden sooner rather than later.

How to Build Soil on Top Like a Pro

Layering Organic Matter

Starting with a base layer of nutrient-dense compost is ideal. Following this with layers of organic matter such as leaves & wood chips protects the base layer while creating a long-term soil building strategy, as the leaves & wood chips will break down over time and add to your soil bank. While wood chips are typically available for free from local tree trimmers if you’re resourceful, purchasing them from Hammond Farms Landscape Supply is also a great way to go. Their Brush Chips are unprocessed wood chips directly from tree trimming companies.

Planting Holes

If you don’t have enough compost to cover the entire area where you want to build soil initially, simply covering the ground with a thick layer of wood chips and putting a planting hole in the middle is a great way to get started. Vining crops like squash are perfect for taking advantage of your newly developing space!

Boughten Compost

Making enough compost to fill a raised bed is no small feat. In the Greater Lansing Area, we are privileged to have access to quality compost producers that should not be taken for granted. Hammond Farms Landscape Supply is a great source for finished compost, and they deliver right to your doorstep. While they have multiple soil blends, we recommend filling raised beds with their Pro-Gro product, which is 100% compost. To ensure your plants have all the essential nutrients to thrive, we’ve found that adding a top layer of composted manure, such as Dairy Doo is ideal. There also many different blends of the Dairy Doo, but if your just mixing it into other compost like Pro-Gro, the straight Dairy Doo is the best option in my opinion, as it’s much more economical. There are numerous places to purchase Dairy Doo in the Greater Lansing Area: Find DOO Near You. Mulching your newly purchased compost is essential to help protect and encourage new life within it.

Landscape Beds

The process of building soil in landscape beds is identical to the planting hole method we mentioned above, except that you simply add a planting hole for every plant. While using leaves in the Fall is a great way to start the base layer of a landscape bed, using 100% wood chips to build the base is just fine if your timing doesn’t match up with the seasons.

Why Soil Building Should be Priority No. 1

It’s time to shift our gardening perspective. Instead of fixating solely on plants and aesthetics, let’s redirect our focus to the soil beneath. Building healthy soil is the cornerstone of a successful, sustainable garden.

By prioritizing soil health, we not only create a vibrant landscape but also contribute to a healthier environment. Not only are you helping to sequester carbon when you layer organic materials such as leaves & wood chips, the healthy soil they create acts as a carbon sink, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change. So, whether you’re an aspiring green thumb or a seasoned gardener, let’s unite in our mission to build, nurture, and celebrate the soil beneath our feet.

Building soil is definitely a labor intensive process, but could possibly be the smartest long-term investment you ever make. If you’re ready to invest in your soil’s health but don’t have the time or ability, Fruitful Landscapes is here to help!

277 thoughts on “The Silent Struggle: Terrible Soil at Your Doorstep”

    1. davidroyalbert

      That’s where we get our Dairy Doo, the composted manure. We get it by the yard, but you can also buy it by the bag as well. They have a lot of different blends, like Veggie-Doo, and Seed Starter 101, but we just get the straight Dairy Doo, as we are usually mixing it with the Pro-Gro from Hammond Farms. It’s much cheaper that way for us. Depending on what your using it for, the other blends are definitely worth looking into.

      Reply
  2. JamesGob

    Купить двери на заказ в Москве
    Производство дверей на заказ по индивидуальным размерам
    Советы по выбору дверей на заказ
    Виды и оттенки дверей на заказ
    Двери на заказ: доставка и монтаж дверей на заказ
    Какие факторы влияют на выбор дверей на заказ? варианты дверей на заказ
    Ламинированные двери на заказ: преимущества и недостатки
    Металлические двери на заказ: надежность и безопасность
    Двери на заказ для спальни
    Двери цены в розницу https://www.mebel-finest.ru.

    Reply
  48. plumber_zaea

    быстро и качественно.
    Экспертные услуги сантехников в Сан-Хосе.
    Быстрое устранение поломок сантехники в Сан-Хосе.
    без выходных.
    Выгодные предложения сантехников в Сан-Хосе.
    Профессиональный ремонт сантехники в Сан-Хосе.
    быстро и профессионально.
    Профессиональные сантехники в Сан-Хосе.
    Помощь сантехника в Сан-Хосе.
    Доступные цены на сантехнические услуги в Сан-Хосе.
    san jose plumbing https://plumbersan-joseca4.com .

    Reply
  161. Kompaniya_paOr

    Консультации опытных специалистов по строительной экспертизе, которые помогут добиться успеха в строительных делах.
    Агентство строительной экспертизы – https://proekty-prom.ru .

    Reply
  163. Obsledovan_mlMr

    Инновационные методики обследования строительных конструкций здания, для достижения наилучших результатов.
    Обследование конструкций объекта здания – https://konstruktest.ru .

    Reply
  164. Kompaniya_emKi

    Необходимость строительной экспертизы: важные моменты, проведение строительной экспертизы: ключевые аспекты.
    Агентство строительной экспертизы – http://www.rabotest.ru .

    Reply
  165. Kompaniya_dgpr

    Профессиональная строительная экспертиза: надежность и гарантированный результат, экспертность и опыт.
    Агентство строительной экспертизы – doksmet.ru .

    Reply
  245. Online_ufPl

    Benefits of online schools in Washington,
    Insight into the operation of online schools in Washington,
    Advice for excelling in online schools in Washington,
    Comparing online schools in Washington,
    Essential characteristics of online schools in Washington,
    Cost considerations for online schools in Washington,
    Locating reputable online schools in Washington,
    Obstacles to overcome in online schools in Washington,
    Support services available at online schools in Washington,
    Career opportunities for graduates of online schools in Washington,
    Professional development opportunities at online schools in Washington,
    Convenient class times at online schools in Washington,
    Building connections through online schools in Washington,
    In-depth programs at online schools in Washington,
    Trends in online schooling in Washington,
    Technology requirements for online schools in Washington,
    Student testimonials from online schools in Washington,
    How to enroll in online schools in Washington,
    Advantages of online education for working professionals in Washington
    Online Schools in Washington http://www.onlineschoolwa2.com/ .

    Reply
  264. Online_bxpl

    Top Online Schools in Kentucky, Advantages of Online Education in Kentucky, Top-Rated Accredited Online Schools in Kentucky, Explore Your Options, Unlock Your Potential, Deciding Your Path, Quality Education Without Breaking the Bank, Earn Your Diploma, Virtual Elementary Schools in Kentucky, Unlock Your Child’s Potential, Get to Know the System
    Online Schools in Kentucky http://www.onlineschoolky1.com/ .

    Reply
  265. Online_mdOi

    Explore the best online schools in Wisconsin, with detailed rankings and reviews.
    Enroll in a reputable online school in Wisconsin, to begin your academic journey now.
    Learn from the comfort of your own home in Wisconsin, with adaptable timetables and one-on-one guidance.
    Enhance your career prospects with an online degree in Wisconsin, from accredited online schools in Wisconsin.
    Realize your educational aspirations with an online program in Wisconsin, customized to match your preferences and availability.
    Interact with peers in digital learning environments in Wisconsin, and build a strong network for your future.
    Access resources and materials online for your courses in Wisconsin, to thrive in your virtual learning and prosper in your digital school.
    Online Schools in Wisconsin onlineschoolwi6.com .

    Reply
  272. Online_mwon

    Discover the Best Online Schools in New Mexico, Take Your Education to the Next Level with Online Schools in New Mexico, Achieve Your Academic Goals with Online Schools in New Mexico, Empower Your Education with Online Schools in New Mexico, Discover a New Way to Learn with Online Schools in New Mexico, Connect with Virtual Classrooms in New Mexico, Find the Perfect Online School in New Mexico, Discover the Benefits of Online Schools in New Mexico, Explore Online Learning Opportunities in New Mexico, Join the Online Education Revolution in New Mexico
    Online Schools in New Mexico https://onlineschoolnm3.com .

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top