Garden Tip: Good Soil for Beautiful Gardens

Gardening experts at Longfield Gardens help us understand why soil is so important.
Soil (dirt) is the foundation of your garden. It holds the nutrients and is the 'house' for the root systems. If you already have good soil that is rich in nutrients, dark in color and drains well, then you are well on your way to a beautiful garden! If you do not have good dirt, and if the planting site is in a good location (meaning it does not hold standing water), then you can make your garden foundation healthier with a couple of simple fixes.
If your soil looks dry and is composed mostly of clay (see above right), or if it's sandy and not holding together, you can add organic matter (compost) or black dirt to the soil.
Organic matter, like compost and peat moss, improves the water/nutrient holding capacity of sandy soil, loosens clay soil and improves the health of your plants. Your plants need nutrients, and a good texture will help water and air travel through the soil to the root system.

Three Steps to Healthy Soil
1. Choose organic matter or black garden soil available at your local garden center, hardware store or nursery.
2. Use a shovel, garden fork or rototiller to blend in your medium 4-6" deep. Be careful not to damage existing plant roots.
3. Plant quality bulbs, like those from Longfield Gardens, or plants and add 2" of mulch to help retain moisture. Starting with good soil will help you enjoy a beautiful gardening season!
http://blog.longfield-gardens.com/bid/272732/Garden-Tip-Good-Soil-for-Beautiful-Gardens