Feed the Soil

Soil, like children, needs to be fed. It matters what you give them for their health.

The soil needs nutrients.

Organic material improves the quality and productivity of the soil.

Soil doesn’t like compounds that include pesticides and herbicides or animal fats. They make the soil sick.

If your plants seemed to lack vigor this summer, most likely is was due to your soil being infertile.

Your soil is resting in the winter.

However, you may apply organic (animal) manure in winter unless runoff from your garden could find its way to streams, lakes or drainage ditches.

Applications this winter will help improve next years vigor in the garden. The best time to fertilize, however, is in the spring, when the garden is being prepared for planting.

Commercial fertilizers are welcome, as is animal manure. Two inches of fertilizer per year is a good rule of thumb. If using fresh manure you need even less. When using fresh animal manure be cautious.

It can contain excessive amounts of nitrogen which may burn the plants. Barnyard manure is often mixed with straw, sawdust or shavings which somewhat dilutes the nutrient content and has a tendency to contain weed seeds.

Components to add to your garden soil in the fall include compost, leaves, grass clippings, if you haven’t used Weed and Feed type fertilizers, cornstalks and other vegetable debris.

Materials with high nitrogen values include, vegetable waste, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and animal manure.

Don’t not however, incorporate dog or cat feces.

Materials with high carbon values include, leaves, cornstalks, straw, bark, paper, wood chips and sawdust.

Egg shells offer calcium carbonate to the composition of the soil.

Soils in the Inland northwest very greatly, yet are ash-influenced by the ancient Mt. Mazama Volcano Eruption, now the site of Crater Lake, Oregon.

More recently, uneven distribution of ash deposits from the Mt. Saint Helens volcanic eruption are evident. Sand, clay, gravel, rock and loam are all characteristics found disproportionally in soils in Spokane County.

An analysis of soil health and composition can be determined by evaluating a soil sample. Information regarding soil testing is available from the Spokane County Master Gardeners.

If a professional assessment of your soil is desired contact the Spokane Conservation District at 509-535-7274 for information on obtaining a My Soil Testing Kit.

The study of soils is fascinating and you don’t need a PhD (though a little knowledge of chemistry helps) to understand the importance of preserving and promoting the health of soil.

Information labels on products is a helpful tool to learn about the elements and equivalents of chemical requirements for your soil.

An enlightening film, Symphony of the Soil, written by Deborah Koons Garcia and produced by Lily Films, provides educational and entertaining viewing for your family and friends.

The moral of my story is feed your soil so you can feed your children.

Margaret Swenson is a Spokane County Master Gardener.