Healthy Soil, Happy Plants – What You Need to Know
Quick Recap of Post 3
What is Good Soil?
Good soil is the foundation of a great garden. You want soil that’s dark, crumbly, and smells a little like the woods after a rain.
- – It holds water, but not too much.
- – It drains well so roots don’t rot.
- – It’s soft enough for roots to grow through easily.
If your soil is too hard, too sandy, or too soggy—you’ll need to fix that. And we’ll show you how.
Soil Types Made Simple
- – **Clay** – Heavy, sticky, and holds water too long. Hard when dry.
- – **Sandy** – Drains fast and dries out quickly. Feels gritty.
- – **Loamy** – Just right! A mix of sand, silt, and clay. Soft, dark, and rich.
Most gardeners aim for loamy soil—or at least try to improve what they’ve got to act like loam.
Gear Up for a Great Garden!
Garden Like You Mean It!
Potting Mix vs Garden Soil
– **Potting Mix** is made for containers. It’s light, fluffy, and drains well.
– **Garden Soil** is heavier and made for the ground.
Don’t use garden soil in pots—it gets compacted and doesn’t drain well.
Use potting mix for all your containers. Use garden soil (with compost) in your beds.
Testing Soil Without Kits
You don’t need a fancy test to get a feel for your soil.
- Touch: Pick up a handful and squeeze it. Does it clump and stay tight? It may be clay. Does it fall apart fast? It’s sandy.
- Smell: Healthy soil smells earthy. If it stinks or smells sour, you may have drainage problems.
- Look: Dark soil with bits of organic material is a good sign. Pale, dry, or crusty soil needs help.
Wrap-Up + What’s Next
Now that you know how to build a better soil bed or container mix, your plants will thank you. Healthy soil is like a buffet for your roots—filled with nutrients and good drainage.
In the next post, we’ll show you how to start plants from seeds. It’s fun, cheap, and satisfying.
