Nutrient Deficiency In the Garden

There are many different symptoms that can show where there has been a nutrient deficiency in a plant. Because all plants respond differently to a lack of nutrients it is not always easy to determine whether it is a deficiency or something else that is causing the changes to the plant.

Chlorotic blueberry plant due to soil pH being too high, and therefore plant not being about to uptake iron. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where you see abnormal leaf coloring, where the leaf has turned a pale yellow or changed to a paler color than normal, and the veins of the leaf are green, then this can be a sign of nutrient deficiency.

If the leaves are smaller than normal, or any part of the plant is showing signs of stunted growth, then this is a sure sign of a nutrient deficiency.

There are other signs such as brown blotches on the leaves, but this can also be leaf scorch so you need to consider the conditions that the plant is growing in to help analyze blotchy leaves. If the leaves are showing tones of blue or purple that can be another sign to look out for.

To assist the plant, you should apply a soluble fertilizer, as this will have the fastest effect on its possible recovery.

You will need to check the pH of the soil to see that it is correct and take the appropriate action to remedy the situation if it is out of balance.

The nutrients might be in the soil but without the correct pH balance the plant won't be able to make use of them. Testing can be done with a simple and inexpensive test kit that you can buy from garden stores.

Make sure that the plants you are growing are compatible with the soil that you are growing them in and adjust the type of soil accordingly if you don't want to replace them with plants that can flourish in those conditions.

Making the Most of Any Soil

First off, I apologize for the lack of posts last week! I ended up getting the flu, and was down for the count. But we're wrapping up soil month this week, with a couple of helpful articles on making the most of your precious garden soil.

It's really not what you start with when it comes to the quality of the soil in your garden, but the results you have when the preparation has finished that really matters.

With the correct information and procedures you can make just about any soil fertile, but the key factor here is getting the right information in the first place. Even poor quality soil can be improved to the extent that you can have a lush garden.

Planning your garden ahead of planting will make all the difference as you will be able to get proper drainage sorted out while also allowing for good water and nutrient retention.

An example of sand based soil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Digging the soil will give you a good feel for it's quality and allow you to look at factors such as the density of the soil and whether it needs breaking up to allow for more water, air and nutrients to be retained within it.

The types of plants you intend to have in your garden will determine what you will need to do with the soil, as some plants thrive in heavy conditions, such as those found in clay soils, whereas other plant roots will struggle to get through anything other than light sandy soils.

Mixing in compost, sand, and other grades of soil when you are digging your garden can change the structure considerably. Having additional information from pH test kits as we previously discussed will also ensure you have the right balance of lime in your garden.

You might need to add fertilizer to get the quality of the land up to suitable levels for planting but almost any soil can be made fit with the right preparation.

Consider raising the garden beds where the ground is particularly poor or where there could be problems with drainage.

Light sandy soils will have space for air, water and nutrients but the nutrients can get washed away easily leaving the plants to suffer. Heavy clay soils can hold the nutrients better but the roots of the plants might have trouble getting to them. Clay soils can also become waterlogged or alternatively in hot dry weather they can become very hard, cracked and dry.

The climate will play a big part in determining how you prepare your soil. Check back Thursday when we will discuss a very helpful soil amendment that can improve almost any soil.

Video - How to Test Your Soil's pH Level

In this short video, Patti the Garden Girl demonstrates how to use a simple soil test kit to test the pH levels in your garden soil. pH is an important factor in creating a healthy soil that will grow healthy plants. The Soil Stick kit is super easy to use and contains everything you need to do a proper test, including tips on how to change the pH balance of your soil to a more desirable level, and a handy chart of common plants that grow best at different pH levels.

How to Test Your Garden Soil's pH Level
In this video, Patti Moreno, the Garden GIrl shows you how to test the pH level of your garden soil using a Soil Stick. To purchase a Soil Stick see link below. For more gardening tips go to http and www.urbansustainableliving.com


Soil Stick Test Kits:
  

Understanding Soil - Part 2: Testing the pH of Your Soil

We talked a bit last week about creating balanced soil for optimum growth of your garden, and one of the most important things to keep in balance is your soil's pH. It's easy to test the pH of the soil in your garden with the use of a simple and inexpensive test kit.

All you need to do with the test kit is take a sample of the soil and mix it with water and then compare the results in the sample to the colors on the chart. This will tell you whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.

Homeowners are encouraged to test their soils for nutrient needs, and to apply only what nutrients are needed for a healthy lawn and garden. Farmers practice the same testing procedure. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the soil is too acidic you can add lime to bring it back into balance. If on the other hand there is too much lime and the pH reading is high you can add more compost to reduce the levels of the lime in the soil.

Soil that is slightly acidic tends to be more fertile.

Before the use of such test kits, home gardeners used to use a simple taste test to determine the condition of the soil. This method isn't recommended but it can be quite accurate.

If the soil tastes sour then it is likely to be acid. This is also represented by a sour smell.

Vinegar is another way to test whether there is enough lime in the soil, as lime will cause the vinegar to bubble.

Drop some soil into a cup of vinegar and if it starts to bubble then you know there is enough lime in the soil.

But for the low cost of a pH tester, you will get a lot more accurate reading and this will allow you to easily monitor the condition of your soils and adjust the nutrients accordingly rather than guessing what is needed and not having optimum nutrition.

You should also take samples at different points throughout your garden, as there can be changes in the soil from one area to the next depending on what has been added over the years and what has been growing in the various sections of the garden.

Balancing your soil's pH properly will help you achieve optimum results in the growth and health of your garden.

Be sure to check back next week when we'll discuss a few more ideas for creating healthy, balanced garden soil.


Soil pH Test Kits:
   

Understanding Your Soil - Part 1

As the days get longer, and we start to see the first signs of spring peeking through the snow, our thoughts begin to turn to not just planning, but planting! So for the next few weeks, we're going to talk about one of the most important aspects of garden planning - the foundation of your garden - the soil.

Understanding the role that soil plays in the garden is one of the best assets that you can have as a gardener. It is this knowledge that will allow you to create a healthier environment for your plants and get the maximum benefits from them.

In doing so, you will also make your own life easier, as a garden that is well managed from the soil up, is a garden that is a lot easier to manage from one day to the next.

 Soil types by clay, silt and sand composition. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A garden that has good soil that has been fed with good nutrition over time will make growing just about anything easy for even the least experienced gardener. (And those working with poor soil will tend to struggle, even if you've been gardening for years.)

So how do you get good soil?

First you need to consider how plants grow and how they get their nutrition and that is through their roots. Therefore, in order for the plants to grow well, they need to be in soil that allows their roots to get to the nutrition.

Obviously very compact ground with little water, little air and poor nutrition will not produce the best plants. Plants need water and air and this requires soil that has spaces to hold this air and water. Therefore soil that is properly aerated will generally produce a better garden.

But once again (as all things with gardening) it is all about balance, as soil that is too crumbly might not hold the nutrients as well, so the water might wash them away. The soil also needs to be firm enough to support the growth of the plant - otherwise it will topple over at the first sign of a wind.

The soil needs to have suitable nutrients and if any of these nutrients are out of balance, a pH scale that measures whether the soil is acidic or alkaline will show why plants are having difficulty absorbing the nutrients.

Be sure to check back next week when we'll discuss soil pH in further detail.

Video - Testing Your Garden Soil's pH Levels

In this short video, Patti the Garden Girl shows you how to test the pH of your garden soil. Different plants and shrubs need different levels of acidity or alkalinity. The majority of plants prefer a fairly neutral pH level, but some have different requirements, so you'll want to test your soil before planting to make sure it has the correct levels for optimal growth of your crops. Soil pH testers are inexpensive and easy to find, and some indicator plants can also give you an idea of whether you have alkaline or acid soil (hydrangeas, for example, will have different color blossoms based on whether your soil is acidic or alkaline).

How to Test Your Garden Soil's pH Level
In this video, Patti Moreno, the Garden GIrl shows you how to test the pH level of your garden soil using a Soil Stick. To purchase a Soil Stick visit www.plumstone.com. For more gardening tips go to http and www.urbansustainableliving.com


Soil pH Test Kits: