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How to Maintain Optimal Moisture in Living Soil Gardens

Cambodia Trust

Soil microorganisms break down organic matter, releasing nutrients into plant-available forms. To keep these organisms healthy, the soil should be kept moist.

A garden’s soil moisture levels are influenced by a number of factors. The most important factor is a soil’s water-retaining properties. Loamy soils (mixtures of sand, silt, and clay) have the ability to hold more moisture than pure sand or pure clay soils.

Watering

Keeping soil moisture at optimal levels is crucial for all living soil gardens. Whether you practice no-till or simply top-dress your plants regularly, this decomposition process is necessary to keep the nutrient cycle moving. Moreover, it is important to water the base soil on a regular basis so that it can retain water.

In addition to providing a healthy habitat for microorganisms, good soil moisture also helps in reducing the amount of water that is lost through evaporation. This is especially true during the long summer days when temperatures and sun quickly dry out the soil.

Many methods exist to keep the soil moist but some are more effective than others. One of the best options is to use organic mulch such as grass clippings, shredded leaves, sawdust or straw, which helps retain moisture in the ground and provides additional nutrients. Another option is to add a layer of humus, which further increases the ability of the soil to absorb and hold water. There are even products on the market such as wetting agents that reduce surface tension to help the soil absorb water.

It is also helpful to hand-water with a hose or watering can. This allows you to more accurately target dry spots in the soil and can be a more sustainable way of watering. In addition, watering with compost tea or banana water is a great way to add nutrients and moisture simultaneously.

As you water, make sure to deeply soak the soil so that it gets to the roots. This will encourage the roots to grow down into the soil, increasing their size and making the plants more drought tolerant. A deeper root system also helps the plant to conserve the available moisture, which can also reduce the amount of water needed for survival.

When the watering is done, it is a good idea to let the soil sit or “cook” for at least two weeks (ideally a month). This is the time during which the microbes cycle all of those delicious nutrients you put into the garden in the form of compost, breaking them down into plant-available forms. During this process, the worms and other arthropods in the soil break down dead leaves and other debris. The resulting nutrients then provide the plants with the nourishment they need to thrive.

Mulching

Mulching is an important practice in living soil gardens. It can reduce weeds, add organic matter, and help retain soil moisture. It also helps to improve the aeration of the topsoil, as well as to keep the soil cooler during warm weather. Organic mulches also create a spongy texture that helps the soil to absorb rainwater more readily and reduce runoff during heavy rainfall, great for a kultiva 30 gallon living soil pot. This allows the soil to recharge its moisture levels more easily after a dry spell.

In addition, the organic materials that form the mulch decompose over time, adding valuable nutrients back into the soil. Keeping soil moist also helps to prevent disease organisms from thriving in the dry conditions of unfertile or overly salty soils. Keeping soil healthy throughout the growing season can significantly increase vegetable and fruit yields, as well as reduce the frequency of garden pest problems such as wilts, root rots, powdery mildews and other pathogens.

To keep the soil hydrated, be sure to water thoroughly each week and ensure that the water is reaching the roots of all the plants. It is also a good idea to add a layer of organic matter, such as grass clippings, straw, hay, composted manure, or shredded leaves. Be careful with using bulk or bagged compost, though, as many can be contaminated with herbicides, which can damage crops and poison soil for years.

For the best results, choose organic mulches that are soft and green in color to quickly decompose and provide the most nutrient-rich material for the soil. Grass clippings and a mix of different colored leafy vegetables like carrots, beets and lettuce are excellent choices for a living mulch. Perennial herbs and flowers, such as chamomile, calendula, phlox, nigella, chickweed, buckwheat and african marigold also work well.

In permaculture gardening, we often incorporate living mulches in the form of perennial and edible plants that naturally shade the soil, suppress weeds, and help to maintain a healthy soil ecosystem. For example, in the summer, a salad garden may include cilantro, beets and differently colored leafy lettuces planted beneath larger crops such as peppers or at the base of the bean trellis, while in winter, a cold climate perennial herb garden might have rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, dill, mint and parsley.

Shade

Shade helps to conserve soil moisture because it acts as a buffer between the soil and the searing sun’s rays. This means that water that has been absorbed by the roots will remain in the soil longer, making it available to plants for a longer period of time. Shade also slows the evaporation of soil water from the surface, which is a huge benefit during our hot and dry summers and fall here in Southern California.

Many vegetables, herbs and flowers thrive in shady areas. Vegetables that like a bit of shade include tomatoes – both determinate (bush) and indeterminate (vining), sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, kale and lettuce. Herbs that do well in shade include thyme, parsley and cilantro. You can provide shade for your garden beds and containers by adding an overhead structure, planting trees or even placing patio furniture over parts of the garden. You can also add a layer of organic mulch or use breathable fabric such as blankets to help keep the soil cooler and reduce evaporation.

Providing an extra layer of protection from the elements can make your garden much more sustainable and less labor intensive. It will require a little effort in the beginning, but will pay off in the long run. Organic mulch on the soil surface increases the amount of rainwater that the soil can capture to refill its reservoir. This makes it easy to grow healthy plants that are drought resistant. Keeping soil moisture at optimal levels will reduce plant stress, which can lead to a host of diseases and other problems that can be fatal for some plants over time. By using strategies to stretch a little water as far as possible, you will get the most out of your garden and create a healthy, vibrant and productive environment for you and your family to enjoy.

Temperature

Whether you’re hand watering your garden beds or using drip irrigation systems, your soil will go through daily fluctuations in moisture levels. The temperature of your soil plays a significant role in how much moisture it can hold and the rate of its uptake. In addition, soil temperature affects the physiochemical and biological processes in the ground and influences the atmosphere-ground gas exchange process.

In general, plants that have a higher amount of moisture in the soil are more vigorous. They are less prone to stress-related diseases, and their leaves and stems are usually healthier. Moreover, they produce more fruit and vegetables than their counterparts in dry soil.

The best way to test the soil for optimal moisture is by sticking your finger a few inches below the surface of the soil. If it feels moist up to your first knuckle, it’s probably good to go. However, you can also use a long probe soil moisture meter, such as this one on Amazon, to get more precise readings.

You can also try to raise the humidity in your garden by grouping your plants together or misting them with water. However, it’s important to note that high humidity can lead to increased plant disease risk. Additionally, misting the foliage can reduce air circulation and cause moisture to evaporate more quickly.

To keep the soil in your garden hydrated, you can incorporate organic matter into the mix, such as compost or manure, and mulch around your beds. You can also use water-absorbing polymers that swell with water to help retain the moisture in the soil. However, you should avoid covering your soil in plastic sheets or other non-breathable materials that interfere with air circulation. In the winter, keeping your garden beds covered with a layer of straw or burlap can keep it insulated and retain some moisture while still allowing for proper air movement. This will help prevent the soil from drying out too quickly as the weather cools down. Additionally, it’s a great way to keep the soil warm and protect your plants from frost and colder temperatures.

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Cambodia Trust