When planning a garden, one important consideration is what type of organic matter to incorporate into the garden soil.
Organic matter is simply the decomposed state of material that was once living, said Dr. Dave Williams, a horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Organic matter is also referred to as humus when in a finished, composted state.
How much organic matter does your garden need? “Actually, when it comes to organic matter, you can just about never get too much of a good thing,” Williams said.
The primary reason for adding organic matter to garden soil is to improve drainage and soil structure. Soil is made up of a mixture of different-sized particles, including clay, sand and silt. Roots must grow and move in the soil to obtain water and air. Organic matter builds a better soil structure for roots to forage for life-giving water, nutrients and air.
Organic matter also helps bind soil particles together in sandy soil.. “It helps prevent water from flowing through soil too quickly,” Williams said.
There are different types of organic matter that can be added to garden soil. The best, easiest and most economical and available source of organic matter is compost from your own back yard. You can make your own compost. If you need information about compost and how to make a compost pile, contact the county Extension office.
Commercially packaged sources of organic matter include manures, peat and composted materials. Finely ground pine bark can also be used as organic matter for the garden soil. A word of caution – look for packages that indicate weed-free materials.
Also exercise caution when purchasing top soil. You may not be getting what you think you are. In fact, you may be introducing a crop of nutgrass or nutsedge into the garden by using purchased top soil.
Some cities even have a community or municipal composting system where residents can get composting material for their gardens.
