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Soil is the basis of all good gardening. Gardeners who are blessed with good soil can skip this step. For the rest of us, start digging. Never learn to live with a problem soil! Work each year to improve it.
If you are unsure about your soil or if it has never been gardened, start with a soil test. It costs $14 to get a basic soil test from the Utah State University analytical lab. You can access the lab information at www.usual.usu.edu.
This test tells your soil type based on the amount of sand, silt and clay. It also measures the amount of phosphorus and potassium and tests test the soil pH, (alkalinity and acidity) and the salt level.
All soils in Utah are alkaline, and most have either too much sand or too much clay. Regardless of your soil type, you need to add organic matter or other amendments to improve aeration on clay soils and improve water- and nutrient-holding capacity in sandy soils.
Organic matter is material that was once living. It includes compost, mulches, leaves, grass clippings, kitchen waste, manures and many other materials. Plan to add 2 inches of composted material each season to make or maintain a good growing mix.
You can make your own compost or add leaves in the fall. You can also buy myriad commercial products in bags or bulk. The materials need to be abundant, affordable and free of weed seeds and other pests.
Inorganic amendments include perlite, vermiculite, Utelite and other products. These products improve the drainage and aeration of garden mixes.
If you have soils for growing or the soil in your garden area is so bad it won't grow anything, consider using grow boxes, raised beds or container gardens. You can produce vegetables on garden balconies, patios or anywhere that gets enough sun.
Many gardeners think that adding amendments also takes care of the fertilizer needs. Amendments improve the physical properties of the soil but usually do not supply enough of the nutrients that your plants need.
Add fertilizers to supply these nutrients. ___________________
Miller Companies LC is in the soil blending, soil amendment, composting and mulch business including rock and other mulches. Their location in Hyrum, Utah comes from the fact that the company owner, Jr. Miller started a very successful meat packing plant there many years ago.
Contact Miller Company at 1836 W 4600 S, Hyrum, UT 84319 (435) 245-3157
