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Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) are what those numbers on a bag of fertilizer stand for. However, the key to growing healthy plants is not just about NPK. Sometimes there are certain conditions in the soil that can block nutrients from getting to your plants. More often than not people kill their plants with love. They water too much or they over feed them. Growing healthy plants digging tools name with picturea combination of things and it all starts with the soil. Since soil is what your plants grow in, it is the foundation of gardening. Without a strong foundation, you’re asking for trouble. These tips below are some guidelines professional farmers use to help decide what is needed for their next growing season. These also help them figure out why they may be having some disease or pest problems on their farm this year, or can help anticipate what may be coming next year. These tips can be useful to home gardeners as well and are not cost prohibitive.

Know whether you have an acidic, basic (alkaline), or neutral soil. To do this, you want to check the soil pH. Most garden suppliers sell simple pH kits to test your soil. They have easy to follow instructions and cost as little as $10 dollars. Soil pH has a huge impact on the plants you choose to grow. Refer to a plant guide to check which plants will grow best in the type of soil you have. Generally, it is more acidic on the East Coast and more alkaline on the West Coast and more neutral in the middle of the country. Soil pH can be adjusted using amendments such as lime, acid, and gypsum, however it takes time.

Get a measurement of the organic matter in your soil as part of a soil analysis. Contact your local agricultural extension for some help. They can walk you through the process and also run the test for you at a low cost. High organic matter will sustain lots of life and also help with drainage and drought tolerance. High organic matter, say 3 or 4%, is great for drought tolerance, supporting chemical reactions, and for supporting life of worms, beneficial insects, and microbes. High organic matter is also important in fighting off erosion.

3. How Moist Is Your Soil? Know when to water and when not to.-
More often than not, people tend to kill their plants with love. In other words, they over-water. Get a moisture meter, put in the soil and water accordingly. Also, know the moisture needs of your plants. Some plants love water and others don’t. Moisture also helps materials break down further in the soil, helps microbes, worms and insects survive during hot summer months and also helps fight erosion.