1. Will a soil test determine what type of soil I have? Soil is basically air and minerals combined. And the common minerals in soil are sand, silt and clay, and sometimes other organic materials. Generally we refer to soil in three types: sand, which has the largest soil particles and is quick draining and generally less fertile than other types of soil; clay, generally very fertile, slow-draining soil with small particles and the least amount of space between the particles for air and water; and loam, a good mixture of all particles, about 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt, and 20 percent clay, good for most plants.
You can do your own soil test to determine the type you have. Ball the soil in your hand when it's moist but not wet; if it falls apart, it's sandy; if it sticks in a clump that can't be tapped apart, it's filled with clay; if it holds the ball but breaks apart when tapped, it's loam. Once you know which type of soil you have, you'll know how to amend it for your plants.
2. How do I amend soil that is full of clay?
Clay soil can be tricky to work with but can be improved over time. One thing to note is that you should not work with clay soil when it's wet. If it clumps up on the garden fork, wait until it dries some before working with it. Start by adding organic material to the soil each year. You can work in compost or manure and even a small amount of sand. Use organic mulches on clay soil, and you might want to mulch a little more often until you get the soil amended.
3. What is soil pH, and why is it important to me?
Simply put, pH measures the level of acidity or alkalinity in soil. Seven is a neutral number on the scale, with the lower numbers being higher in acid and the higher numbers being higher in alkaline. So what does this mean to you? What it means is that some plants are sensitive to acid or alkaline, so you need to know how to amend the soil if you are planning to grow those plants. The pH level will affect how nutrients are broken down in the soil.
If your soil is too acidic, you can add limestone to the soil to amend it. If it's full of alkaline, add sulfur to the soil to lower the level. You can also get further advice from your local extension service, and keep in mind that it's a good idea to grow plants that are native to your area, as they are more adaptable to the soil.
4. How often do I loosen the soil, and what is the best way to do it?
That depends on the soil and what you plan to grow. For new soil or soil that hasn't been worked in a while, you might want to use a rototiller and break up the dirt to about 8" deep. This does promote faster breakdown of the soil though, so don't do it too often.
For soil that has been worked from year to year, just use a garden fork and a space in the spring to turn the bed. You can work the soil in the fall to prepare for winter, but do this minimally, and finish up in the spring.
5. Can I use leaves to till into my garden beds?
Yes you can. Any organic material is good for garden beds as long as it isn't infected with disease. If the leaves have been sitting wet for too long, it's possible that they are diseased; but if you've raked them in a reasonable amount of time, they should be fine. They will eventually decay into the soil and release nutrients. To speed the process, compost them before you add them to the soil.
