A garden is only as successful as the soil that it consists of. Many landscapers learn the hard way that growing plants is not as simple as choosing a plant species that you like and dropping it into the ground. You will need to consider the nutrients and conditions that a plant type needs to thrive before committing. It is absolutely critical to understand the soil that you have on your property and make changes when necessary to give your plants the best chances of growth. If your soil doesn’t have the right levels of nutrients, it’s safe to say that your plants will struggle indefinitely.

The good news is that there are several ways you can improve the quality of your soil without very much effort. The first thing you should do is get your soil tested to understand more about what it is made up of and what it is lacking. Next, it’s a great idea to head into Cal Blend Soils to purchase soil amendments. Below, we are going to walk you through 5 soil amendments that will completely transform your landscaping. Keep reading on below to learn more and remember to reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you are interested in investing in soil amendments today.

What Are Soil Amendments?

If you aren’t familiar with soil amendments, they are landscaping products that are worked into the soil in order to improve its properties. We all know how important the nutrients in the soil are for growing plants, so consider soil amendments as a tool that helps you improve those nutrients. The goal as a landscaper is to get your garden and plant beds to have soil that is perfect for growing plants. That means soil that is rich in nutrients, provides proper drainage and will allow for your plants to develop strong root systems. Soil amendments can help you accomplish all of that and more. If you are interested in purchasing soil amendments or if you have any questions about them, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today.

The Top 5 Soil Amendments for Your Landscaping

Now that we know a little more about soil amendments and what they have to offer, let’s take a look at the top 5 soil amendments to consider for your landscaping.

Soil Amendment Option #1 – Lime

After you get your soil testing accomplished, you should have an idea about what your soil is lacking and what you need to do to give your plants what they need to grow. Lime is a soil amendment that is a nice option to look it if you are dealing with soil that has high levels of acidity. Lime is most commonly used to restore the balance to the soil’s pH levels. Lime soil amendments are made by grinding down limestone. Limestone is a rock that has very high levels of calcium, which is one of the big reasons why adding lime to your soil will increase the soil’s pH levels. It’s a great idea to consider using lime if you want a soil amendment that will help with pH levels on your property.

Soil Amendment Option #2 – Gypsum

One of the best selling soil amendments at Cal Blend Soils is gypsum and with plenty of good reasons why. Gypsum is essentially calcified sulfate, which is a mineral that is found all over nature. It can help to break up sol with high levels of clay so that water is able to flow freely through the soil and so that your plants can develop stronger root systems. If you’ve noticed that the texture of your soil seems to be very compact, it’s a great idea to explore using gypsum. That way, you can help your plants by allowing for easier root penetration, more water flow, and looser soil texture.

Soil Amendment Option #3 – Organic Matter

Sometimes, adding natural soil amendments to your landscaping can pay off in a big way. Organic matter is great because it slowly decomposes and adds beneficial microorganisms directly into the soil is that process occurs. Some of the organic matter soil amendments you should consider incorporating into your landscaping include rotted leaves and dead plants. The bottom line here is that adding organic matter to your soil will enrich it in a variety of different ways and allow for more nutrient retention.

Soil Amendment Option #4 – Topsoil

Topsoil is a landscaping term that refers to the upper layer of dirt that contains a mixture of soil tops. It consists of three main soil types, clay, silt, and sand. The big benefit of using topsoil to amend your soil is that it can improve the consistency of your soil along with adding vital nutrients. The best topsoil will replenish nutrients in the soil and keep your plants growing healthily for a long time. Topsoil usually contains beneficial microorganisms and organic matter that will really make a positive impact on your landscaping activities. If you are interested in a soil amendment that will transform your landscaping, look no further than topsoil.

Soil Amendment Option #5 – Fertilizers

The last soil amendment we will feature in this article is fertilizers. These are important for your landscaping because they help to improve the supply of macronutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in the soil. Your plants will really start growing if you decide to add fertilizer into the mix. Plant growth is directly impacted by the macronutrients in the soil, so make sure you are considering fertilizers if your plants appear to be struggling to reach their full potential.

As you can tell, there are quite a few different soil amendments to choose from. Each option has different things to offer for your property. The key is testing your soil and learning what it is lacking before making any decisions. You can always reach out to Cal Blend Soils for help with soil testing or if you’d like to purchase soil amendments for your landscaping.