Giving Your Garden A Head Start With Vital Earth Potting Soil - Ennis, TX

Healthy Soil 

Potting soil is the dirt gardeners use as the primary medium for planting, but soil is more than dirt. It is the most revered part of any garden, since the quality of the soil is what makes the difference between a bumper crop and a poor harvest. For all vegetation, soil quality can mean health and vitality, or sick, spindly growth. This is the reason healthy soil a necessary base to build prior to planting. Proper preparation of the soil is the first step to creating a flourishing lawn and garden.

Soil Components 

Soil is made up of two basic types of material:

• Minerals - the main ingredients in soil formed by the breakdown of large rocks. They include minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and sulfur.
• Organic Matter - otherwise known as humus, it is created by the breakdown and decomposition dead and decomposing plants and animals.

Soil also contains living organisms such as microbes, bacteria, insects, worms and fungi.

You might be surprised to learn that some types of potting soil do not contain soil at all, but rather are composed of peat moss, bark, and perlite. Perlite is the tiny pellet puffs you see in potting soil that keeps the mixture from compacting. It is made from heat-puffed volcanic glass.

Why We Recommend Vital Earth Soil in Ennis, TX 

We have been using Vital Earth Soil products since the beginning of our landscaping and nursery business. The results are healthy, vibrant plants that outshine their neighbors.

• It contains sphagnum peat moss - an essential ingredient for increasing the holding capacity of water and air. The moss decomposes slowly, supporting the plant over its entire lifespan.
• Earthworm bedding has been added to boost the ability of the roots to absorb nutrients and water, promoting germination, root growth, and high crop yield.
• The addition of mycorrhizal fungiis is vital to the plant - the microorganism colonizes the root system and aids with water and nutrient absorption.
• To improve the soil vitality, powdered glacial rock containing a broad range of trace minerals essential to the plant has been added.
• Bat guano is included to supply a high concentration of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) to the plants.
• It also contains peat moss - a soil amendment required to create the correct acidity level for most plants.
• The addition of pumice ensures that your plants will not sit in wet, soggy soil that put the roots at risk for rotting - it improves the soil's drainage.

Planting In Containers Vs. Raised Beds 

It is of the essence to use the best quality soil for both your container plants and your raised beds. Taking soil from your yard or garden bed will make it difficult for your plants to develop a strong root system. This type of soil is simply too dense or compacted, inhibiting healthy root growth. Potting mix or soil is perfect for containers since it is light and fluffy enough for the delicate plant roots to penetrate.

For a raised bed, we recommend a slightly heavier mix to create the perfect growing environment. Using new soil helps to provide the plants with the correct nutrients, while restricting diseases or pests that might be lurking deep in the ground waiting to attack your plants.

Amending The Soil 

Soil amendment is the process of incorporating materials into the soil to improve its physical properties. High-quality soil is the foundation of your garden. It is important that it contains all the nutrients required by the plants. It must be well-draining while holding the moisture long enough for the roots to access it. Nature is not always able to supply all the ingredients in the correct balance, so it is up to the gardener to add them. It is also important to protect the roots of your plant from attacking insects and life-threatening diseases. Overall, it improves the soil's texture and corrects the pH balance.

You can provide basic amendments to your soil by adding organic fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides. In our garden store, we stock everything you need for an organic garden. We hand-select our products to ensure the best results for your plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Our nursery staff is ready to help you decide which products you need for your particular lawn or garden situation. We can advise you on the specific fertilizers to use for the seasons and microclimates in and around Ennis, Texas.

Visit Our Ennis, Texas Nursery 

In our garden center, we have everything you could dream of for developing a spectacular lawn and garden. Our goal is to ensure you have strong, healthy plants that produce loads of green leafy foliage, colorful blossoms and bonanza crops! Our staff is highly knowledgeable and ready to answer your questions about preparing your yard for planting. Drop by for a tour of the nursery where you will find all the plants and flowers you can use to fulfill your vision of the perfect landscape.

As natives to Ennis, Texas, we have been providing our horticultural and landscaping expertise and services since 2004. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us. When it comes to choosing plants that thrive naturally, we know exactly what to recommend. We are happy to share everything we know to help you establish the soil base for your garden and about using the Vital Earth Soil products we carry.