Compost: Give Your Garden a Boost!
When we think about adding compost to our gardens, the first thing that comes to mind is probably adding it to planting holes to give new plants a head start. This actually isn’t the best practice, though, as it makes the roots a little too comfy in their planting spot. Its best to add the compost across the landscape, so that the organic materials and nutrients work their way into the soil across a wider area.
A good rule of thumb is to add a fresh layer of compost to your garden beds every few years. Think of it as giving your soil a little refresh - and with the dry conditions we’ve been dealing with for the past year, this can be more important than ever! Established garden beds especially benefit from the addition of compost in the landscape. Read on to find out why!
Help Your Soil Hold Onto Water
One of the biggest reasons to add compost is its ability to improve the soil’s water-holding capacity. Organic matter acts like a sponge; as compost breaks down and becomes incorporated into the soil, it helps create spaces that can hold moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away. This is important because healthy soil needs both water and air — roots don’t want to sit in soggy soil, but they also don’t want to dry out immediately after watering.
When the soil contains plenty of organic matter, more of the water from rainfall or irrigation can remain available instead of quickly running off or moving beyond where plant roots can reach it. This is especially important in a drought, which the Boston area (and most of Massachusetts) has been experiencing for a year now!
Replenish Nutrients
Over time, soil health can suffer. Plants use up available nutrients, organic matter breaks down, and gradually the structure of the soil can become degraded. Adding compost every few years is an easy way to replenish some of what’s been lost.
Plants need a plethora of different nutrients, which compost can provide. Unlike some quick-release fertilizers, the nutrients in compost are released gradually as microorganisms break down the organic material. That slow release is one of the things that makes compost so useful for building long-term soil health.
Improve Soil Structure
Compost can also help improve the structure of both heavy clay soils and lighter, sandy soils. In clay soils, organic matter can help create more space for air and water to move through. In sandy soils, compost helps the soil hold onto moisture and nutrients that might otherwise drain away quickly.
Now what?
If your garden beds are looking a little tired, Fall is a great time to incorporate some compost. By adding organic matter and improving the soil’s ability to hold moisture, we can help our gardens stay healthier while making every drop of water go a little further.
