While it is good practice to water our flower gardens regularly, be aware that too much water is not good for the plants and can actually kill them. Here in Florida where I live, we go from having long periods of drought to a rainy season where it will rain for several hours just about every day. We are having that rainy season right now and I am constantly checking my garden for puddles of water.

The important element in well drained soil is oxygen which allows plants to grow when the roots are not constantly in water and it will not allow water to settle on it. Soil that does not drain well is usually oxygen deficient which results in drowned and rotted roots. Once the water is gone, oxygen flows into the roots of the plants and they will be fine.

Test your garden for drainage by digging holes in various locations during the rainy season. If you see water in the hole the next day, you have slow drainage. If this is the case, get some compost and mix it in with the soil that is there now. Compost is the best to rectify this situation.

It is also good practice to use mulch in areas prone to intense heat in order to keep the roots cool and reduce the amount of evaporation that takes place in the surface of the soil. If you do use mulch, be sure to always test the soil under the mulch for good drainage.

Good drainage in your garden is the key to having beautiful, healthy plants and flowers. This is especially true if you have a rose garden like I do. Roses like moist soil but they don’t like to be in puddles of water. So be sure to test your garden soil for good drainage during the rainy season. Your garden will love you for it, and you will love your garden!

To your well-drained garden, Diana

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Did you know that soil is considered to be alive and should be treated as a living substance? And, it is the most important component if you want to have a beautiful flower garden. Check the soil in your garden and if it is crusty, it feels hard and you see standing water or erosion, then you have poor soil.

The soil in your garden consists of particles which are mainly minerals that come from the breakdown of rocks and other substances with some organic matter. Since soil is the basic element in the cultivation of all plants, it is very important that the soil in your garden is nutrient rich to promote growth. Of course, other growth factors such as sun, light, moisture and weather conditions are important as well.

Many gardeners believe that the ideal soil should be loose, deep, well drained, has lots of organic matter and is free from diseases and weeds. Good soil must have three main ingredients which are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in order to become that ‘ideal’ type of soil. So if you have soil that is deficient in these nutrients, you can mix it with colloidal rock phosphate and green-sand to improve its quality.

Another thing to remember is that clay based soils dry much slower after a rainy day than other types of soil. However, sandy based soils dry out quickly. If you have clay or sandy based soils, you can improve it by adding organic matter such as Peatmoss, Manure, Compost, or even sawdust and bark. Increasing the organic matter of these types of soils makes it easier for you to garden and you will see improved internal drainage.

I prefer Compost for clay and sandy spots in my garden because it binds them together and retain moisture. I also like to add Compost to my potting soil prior to planting anything. Composted manure that you see at your local nurseries is good and you can spread a layer on top of your garden soil prior to tilling thus getting some much needed organic matter in the ground. Whatever you do, don’t try to make your own Compost at home. If you are not an expert at this sort of thing, you can bring unwanted diseases, bugs and weeds to your garden. Leave the work to someone else and just go and buy it at your local nursery.

It is important to mention here that adding fertilizers to your garden does not improve the quality of the soil. Fertilizers are considered chemicals that are applied as a nutrient for the plants and it is not to be confused with organic matter for your garden soil although fertilizers are essential for producing beautiful flowers in your garden. Be sure to follow the instructions given with the purchase of any type of fertilizer and don’t use more than the recommended dosage as it may burn or even kill some of your plants.

Getting back to the soil, if you notice that your plants are short, not growing as they should, show poor color and have bad roots, than you need to check the quality of your garden soil. If you want to have a beautiful flower garden the first step is to make sure you have good quality soil. It doesn’t matter whether you are planting perennials, trees or even a vegetable garden, the quality of the soil will determine how well these will grow.

If you want a great looking garden, then you must have nutrient rich soil in order for your plants to thrive on. Use top quality soil, not some old one that has been around your garage for a long time. Remember that different plants have specific soil needs and the best thing to do is to follow the instructions that come with the plants when you purchase them. And, adding Compost or other organic matter to your soil will make your garden flourish.

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