Gardeners Know the Best (and Worst) Dirt!
All gardeners know at least something about dirt, er in scientific terms, soil. To garden in any capacity is to dig, and digging means dirt. Also laundry, but we won't go into that here.
Dirt, or as the more scientifically inclined might call it, soil, is a gardening basic and too many of us think it is a dull subject. NOT!!!!!!!
Gardeners deal with the living (or not living or perhaps the dreaded failure-to-thrive) results of their soil all the time. When we "feed" our plants what we are actually doing is trying to make up for deficiencies in the soil. Think about it, plants don't have mouths do they? (Except for good old Audrey the "Little Shop of Horrors" man-eating plant of "Feed me, Seymour!" fame!) So feeding plants is a crazy idea. What we are doing is feeding our soil, or at least trying to make up for its failings.
Sometimes all the fertilizer in the world won't help because the problem is one you can almost see and feel: soil texture. Here's a great but absolutely necessary test you can perform in the privacy of your own home!
Okay. Keeping to first steps first. If your plants are all doing well, your soil must be basically okay. What -- did you really think I was going to tell you to run right out and double dig??? I have never willingly double dug in my life and I am not about to start now! But if not all of your plants are doing all that great, there may be a reason for it underground.
And if for curiosity's sake you want to know more about it you could do a couple of basic soil tests. It's interesting and sometimes you get a surprise. So contact your County Extension if you have one and find out what they need to run some basic tests for you. Usually it involves putting a small soil sample into their particular version of a small cloth bag, filling out a form, and paying a minimal fee. You can also find simple kits at the garden center. Here's the quick and dirty but IMPORTANT tip sheet on how to take the sample. Do it right or you might as well not bother.
Your results or report may or may not include some recommendations for soil improvement, so here are some very straightforward and to the point suggestions for beginning to interpret your results and coping with any serious insufficiencies. Here is another slightly more detailed discussion on soil tests and amendments you might find helpful.
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