3 Time-Saving Tips for Maintaining Living Soil Beds
Using a broadfork or digging fork, work your soil to mix in amendments and organic fertilizers. Be careful not to overdo this as excessive soil disturbance will kill the microbes below.
Consider finding a local compost or soil business with premixed recipes of living soil. These are generally richer in base soil with a blend of peat, aeration (like pumice) and compost.
1. Keep the Soil Moisture Levels High
One of the most important things that gardeners can do to ensure healthy plants is to keep the soil moisture levels high. This helps reduce stress, prevent disease, and increase yields and helps to keep cooler roots in the summer.
A dry soil is a breeding ground for pathogens that can cause diseases and damage the plant. In addition, the plant will expend more energy trying to pull water out of the soil, which can make it susceptible to stress-related diseases and death.
Soil that is not well-watered may also be hard on the roots, which can lead to rot and other problems. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the soil moisture level and add water as needed. There are many ways to check the soil moisture, from sticking your finger in the ground to using a soil moisture meter or tensiometer. The easiest way to check the moisture is by feeling the soil – if it is dry and crumbly, it is time to water.
It is important to keep in mind that different types of plants have varying needs when it comes to the soil moisture levels. For example, some plants like Bird of Paradise and Palms need a slightly damp soil, while other plants such as Snake and ZZ plants thrive in dry conditions. If you are not sure how often to water a particular type of plant, try using a soil moisture meter or a tensiometer to get a reading.
Another way to help keep the soil moisture levels high is by mulching and adding organic matter. This can help prevent the soil from drying out as quickly and can provide additional nutrients for the garden.
In addition, some plants, like tomatoes and cucumbers, produce more fruit when the soil is kept moist. This is because the ripening process is more efficient in moist soil.
Lastly, keeping the soil moisture levels high can help to reduce the amount of water used in the garden, which is good for the environment and your wallet!
2. Don’t Overwater
When irrigating your beds, it’s important to know when to stop. Overwatering can quickly suffocate microbes and other soil life, which is detrimental to overall plant health. It can also cause waterlogged, mushy soil, which is not a good place for root growth.
The best way to check soil moisture is the finger test. Stick your finger into the soil, down to about the second knuckle. If the tip of your finger comes up damp, then the soil is properly moist. If the tip of your finger sticks to the dirt, it’s too dry and needs more water.
If your soil is extremely dry, add compost or manure to it to give the microbe community a helping hand. Likewise, excessive digging or tilling will disturb the microbe community beneath your garden bed, leaving them to die.
While you’re at it, consider adding an aeration additive like lava rock or pumice to the raised bed soil. These materials create air pockets for drainage and hold water like a sponge, which will help keep your soil evenly moist for longer periods between watering.
Another great tip for promoting healthy soil is using woody organic material like small branches, leaves and mulch to build the soil. This helps to retain moisture, reduce erosion and provide a natural carbon source that breaks down into the soil and feeds it over time. Using these types of materials is also more environmentally friendly than bagged or commercially produced compost. Lastly, try to avoid putting any organic material in the bed that’s been contaminated with chemicals. If you’re unsure what your green waste bin can accept, contact your local recycling center to find out.
3. Keep the Bed Edges Tidy
Keeping the edges of your raised beds clean is an important maintenance task. This prevents weeds, grass and other plants from invading your growing space, which allows your vegetables to use the full amount of soil available and reduces the need to water. Also, a tidy bed edge is less likely to give shelter to pests, which will make your garden more productive and easier to manage.
There are many ways to edge a garden bed, but my favorite is to use short wooden poles that you can buy in rolls from most nurseries and hardware stores. These are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and have an organic look. You can bury the bottom of the poles fairly deeply into the ground and the woody material will break down to feed the soil as a carbon source over time.
It is also a good idea to add a layer of mulch (not hay, which has too much nitrogen) to the bed edge, especially if you live in an area with hot summers. This will help keep the soil temperature stable, which helps the flora and fauna in the bed work better.
Using a wicking soil liner in your beds will also improve their performance by driving the moisture downwards and maintaining it for longer. This will greatly improve the flora and fauna in your garden, helping the living soil to become more powerful and healthier. MoistureLock is the most effective wicking soil liner on the market and can be purchased here. You should check your wicking soil liner regularly, once per week in normal conditions and more often during a heat wave. If the liner is punctured or damaged, replace it as soon as possible to avoid leaks.
