Spring is Approaching fast!
Things to Consider for Spring
Success may be in adding a balance of both Compost and Fertilizer!
Compost is not fertilizer but simply decomposed plant material. Properly composted materials supply organic matter and are a good source of humus. Compost provided by a planned program of regular composting will produce much of the natural organic matter needed by your herb garden. The most important function of compost is to increase the content of organic matter in your herb garden soil, enhancing tilth. Herbs and most other plants grow best in soils that are well drained and have a high content of organic matter.
Compost from a composting program and the organic matter the compost provides, plus nutrients from external sources like fertilizer, will benefit herb garden crops in a major way. The humus and organic matter helps to hold the plant nutrients contained in the soil so they can be utilized. Any herb garden will benefit from regular applications of the various sources of compost.
Compost will help hold in place, the soil-born nutrients contained in Soil
Garden soil test kits will provide accurate indications of the levels of the nutrients that are already contained in the garden soil. The three important elements found in all fertilizer, represented by the three numbers on fertilizer labels, indicate the level of available essential plant nutrients that are contained in each unit of fertilizer. The goal is to add just enough fertilizer containing the needed plant nutrients to bring your soil test up to the maximum fertility needed for the crop that is being raised.
Soil test kits will quickly and safely tell you what plant nutrients are needed in your herb garden soil. Based on the results of the soil tests made with your soil test kits, in the fall or spring add to your herb garden any needed lime plus the correct amount of plant nutrients through the use of fertilizer or other measurable fertility sources. Follow this by adding compost to your herb garden made from your own composting program. It is a wonderful gift to the environment and your herb garden will love it. Your growing herbs will thrive providing the harvest that you strive for! You will be glad you took the 15 minutes needed to take safe and accurate soil tests.
Fertilizers for garden use, both organic and chemical, are available from most garden suppliers in a wide variety of compositions. For a better understanding of the different products that are available, see the variety of environmentally safe fertilizers and composting aids provided by featured garden suppliers.
By: Thomas Kueny, Publisher - http://www.growing-herbs.com
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