What Is Soil Conditioner?
Soil conditioner is atype of soil amendmentthat both improves the soil’s structure and adds nutrition to the soil.
It is a soil addition, not a soil replacement.
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The structure is improved mainly with inorganic ingredients, such as sand, limestone, andexpanded clay.
Organic elements, such as manure, bark, or worm castings enhance the soil’s nutritional value.
Soil conditioner is used when the soil is in poor condition for planting.
It can be used for starting new gardens, revitalizing old gardens, or establishing new lawns.
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All manufactured soil conditioners use different ingredients, in different proportions.
It’s important to find one that works for your specific soil.
Clay Soil
Areas that have native heavyclay soilare typically not suitable for growing plants.
Containing a high degree of minerals, clay soil becomes sticky when wet and does not drain well.
When dry, clay soil is hard and has a texture like concrete.
In winter, it is prone to frost heave.
In the spring, it warms up slowly.
Soil conditioner loosens and adds softness to clay soil, while restoring itsalkaline pH balanceto healthy levels.
Vegetables require a pH balance between 6.5 and 7.0.
Clay soil tends to have a higher pH, so soil conditioner helps restore pH balances.
Compacted Soil
Even if the soil has the right composition, it can become compacted.
Lawns are especially prone to soil compaction.
When particles are closer, the pores in the soil are reduced.
Water cannot penetrate the soil as well.
Compacted soil reduces the air’s ability to reach the plants' roots.
Roots work harder to extend through the soil.
While this can be alleviated withmechanical aeration, the longer-term solution is to recalibrate the soil’s texture.
Soil conditioner fixes compacted soil by both reorganizing the soil texture and physically loosening it through tilling.
It’s better to add soil conditioner between planting seasons rather than trying to add it to existing gardens.
Assess the Soil
Choose a soil conditioner based on your bang out of soil.
Purchase Conditioner
Purchase 3 to 4 inches of soil conditioner per square foot of garden space.
For example, a garden bed 8 feet long by 3 feet is 24 square feet.
That space requires four cubic feet of soil conditioner.
Soil conditioner comes in bags ranging from 0.75- to 3 cubic feet.
Remove any unwanted plants.
If possible, remove the plants from the area.
Loosen the Soil
Till the soilto a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
For small areas with relatively loose soil, a hand tiller is a good option.
Otherwise, use amotorized cultivatoror arototillerto loosen the soil and break up big dirt clods.
Keep the spread thickness consistent.
Mix to about 4 inches deep.
Keep the mixture light; do not pack it down.
Finish by watering the conditioned soil.
Avoid heavily watering the soil for now, as this will
Soil Conditioner vs.
Fertilizer
Both soil conditioners and fertilizers are added to the soil to help plants.
They are similar because both contain nutrition for the plants.
Also, though both contain plant nutrition, the nutrition is different.
Soil conditioners have organic nutrition, mainly in the form of decaying plant matter.
Although healthy for the plant, it isn’t as concentrated in nutrition as fertilizers.
By contrast,fertilizers contain factory-produced NPK(nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).
Fertilizers are concentrated plant food.
It is used to improve the soil’s texture and add nutrition.
Compost contains only organic matter.
While compost will add some texture to a garden, its primary purpose is to provide nutrients.
it’s possible for you to make soil conditioner by combining organic and inorganic ingredients.
Mix the soil conditioner in with the native garden soil.
it’s possible for you to use too much soil conditioner.
Soil conditioner is an addition to existing soil, not a replacement for it.
Using too much soil conditioner can cause a nutrient imbalance.
Generally, count on a one-to-one ratio of soil to conditioner or as directed by the manufacturer.
