Landscaping comprises softscaping and hardscaping elements. While most property owners have few issues with the hardscaping elements of their exterior, this is not the case for the softscaping details. The softscaping elements, in this case, include the plants and flowers that will complement your hardscaping elements and add some color and greenery to your landscape. The look and health of your plants will primarily depend on your soil’s quality. You, unfortunately, have little control over the soil quality your region has. You can hire a landscaping company to install a landscape for your home in Park City, but you still have to know important things, especially soil quality.
There are different options for improving your soil quality to guarantee a thriving landscape. Organic matter nonetheless makes the most affordable and effective options for improving the quality of your soil. When incorporated into your landscape, it will generate a spongy soil texture. This texture provides the needed pore space to aerate your plants, fill in the excess pore space in sandy soil, and increases your soil’s cation exchange to release nutrients. The organic matter also promotes the growth of microorganisms, regulates soil temperatures, and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity. Here are the types of organic matter used for improving soil quality in landscaping:
Cover Crops
These are crops that are easy to establish and grow rapidly, producing succulent roots and top growth. The standard cover crops in this instance include buckwheat, barley, winter wheat, and winter rye. Based on the cover crops that you will pick for the addition of organic matter to your soil, you can also suppress weeds, avert plant diseases, and prevent soil erosion. There are also different cover crops for different seasons. Buckwheat, for instance, will thrive in summer gardens, while barley is ideal for winter and fall.
Sawdust
This can also be used as mulch and is incorporated into the soil in three to four bushels per 100 square feet. In most cases, the sawdust is mixed with ground limestone to decrease its acidity. Moreover, when using sawdust, professionals will add nitrogen to avert the nitrogen deficiency commonly associated with this organic matter option.
Peat Moss
This is a generally acidic option used in improving the soil quality for acid-tolerant grasses and plants. The most effective forms of peat moss are those made from either reed sedges or sphagnum moss. These will decay slowly in your soil and retain a considerable amount of water. These properties make peat moss the often used organic matter in landscaping. It is, however, expensive and thus generally limited to small areas.
Compost
This, for the longest time, has been the popular organic matter for landscaping. It is not only an inexpensive choice for improving soil, but it is also a good way to dispose of plant residues and keeping the environment clean. Compost comprises any disease-free corn fodder, straw, waste hay, chipped brush, wood chips, leaves, and food scraps.
Other than the right type of organic matter from the ones mentioned above, several undertakings are essential to guarantee quality soil. Tilling, sheet mulching, and the addition of nutrient accumulators are some of the techniques used for improving soil quality. Routine soil tests are also essential to know what your soil is missing to guarantee thriving plants. Therefore, you cannot have a thriving landscape without a professional’s input.