Soil Amendments

Need to improve your soil's drainage or density? Every gardener knows healthy plants and trees start with healthy, living soil. You can improve your soil by adding soil amendments such as the ones below.

Amending your soil is important if it does not contain the proper nutrients, pH level, or organic matter to provide for the plants. Performing a soil test is the first step in figuring out how to amend the soil. Find out what your native soil is composed of.

Do you have soil that is made up of clay or sand? These additives will improve your soil's texture and structure. Organic soil amendments will increase beneficial organisms in your soil and improve the overall health of the plant.

Horticultural charcoal will help pull toxins out of the soil, provide a layer of drainage for terrariums or container plants, and naturally detoxes the surrounding soil.

Perlite and vermiculite are two similar natural substances that help improve drainage and retain moisture in soils. There are many uses for both of these garden soil amendments but enhancing aeration and soil structure is on the top of the list. They expand the surface area and allow room for roots to grow.

Peat moss is a lightweight soil additive that has a high absorbency and helps retain moisture and nutrients. Great for starting seeds or amending garden soil.

These are the best soil amendments for improving your natural soil or potted plants. Shop organic soil amendments for sale at Perfect Plants today.

What Are Soil Amendments

Garden soil amendments are any material that is added to the soil to improve the soil’s quality. 

How to Amend Soil for Garden

In order to amend your garden soil, you will need to know what your soil needs. If you need a more acidic soil you should add peat moss. If you need more nutrient soil it’s best to add compost or manure. If retaining water is the issue, adding mulch or bark would be best.

How to Amend Clay Soil

Peat moss and coconut coir are both great solutions to help improve planting if the ground has a clay-like texture. These mixtures will improve water retention and the natural drainage of the ground, which is important for some plants.

How to Amend Sandy Soil

Sandy soil has a tough time holding moisture and nutrients, so you’ll need a soil amendment of sorts if you want to plant something there. The best bet is adding a peat moss to the sandy soil to enrich it and prepare it for healthy plant life. Simply mix the moss mixture with the soil at a 1 to 1 ratio to get started.

What Is the Best Soil Amendment?

The best soil amendment for an all around rich, nutrient soil is compost. Not only will adding compost to your soil make your soil rich, but it’ll make you rich too because it’s free! All you need to do is take your food scraps and put them in a compost pile, then add this to your soil for the perfect gardening soil. 

What Is Perlite?

Perlite is a volcanic glass that contains water that has been trapped inside by the rapid cooling of the lava. 

What Is Perlite Used For

Perlite is used for plants. To use perlite you simply mix it with your soil and it will help your soil become well-draining, to avoid root rot. The mixture of perlite and soil will become more aerated and will retain more water.

What Is Vermiculite

Horticultural vermiculite is a mineral that is commonly used to amend the soil. 

What Is Vermiculite Used For

To use vermiculite for gardening, you will simply add the vermiculite to your soil. Adding the vermiculite will help increase water and nutrient retention in your soil, while also making the soil well-draining. This brings about more rampant root growth for your plants.

Perlite vs Vermiculite

Perlite and vermiculite are both minerals that help aerate the soil, but vermiculite has the added benefit of water and nutrient retention. 

How To Use Horticultural Charcoal

Horticultural charcoal is used to reduce the moisture in potted plants and other containers. Using horticultural charcoal is as easy as mixing it into your potting soil. You usually want to mix 1 part charcoal and 10 parts soil, but make sure to check specifics on the package.

What Is Peat Moss Used For

Peat moss is used to add aeration to the soil, help hold nutrients, retain moisture and it’s also used heavily in soilless potting mixes.

Shop for soil amendments like perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss from Perfect Plants today.