Compost -- Water Saver for All:

One of the difficulties facing us today is the growing lack of er. It is not sure w differences global warming will bring to our er supply but it will change, and not for the better it seems. Be t as it may, it merely raises the challenge for the home gardener to use er well and wisely. One of the first places to look is the soil.

If you have clay soil t means t it consists in large part of very small soil particles. These particles are so small t er has a hard time getting down between them. The soil may look wet but it likely all surface er as very little goes down very far. In the event er does reach down it will be so dense in its movement t it will suffocate the pl roots, leaving no room for air. Sometimes, especially after a rain, you may see it puddling on the surface and evaporating into the air as it leaves behind a hard, impermeable surface and pls t need er.

Sandy soil on the other hand, has larger soil particles t let er move freely. Generally this is too free a movement and not enough stays around for the pls. The soil always feels dry and the pls wilt by mid day. Unfortunately the moving er also takes available food with it.

For some strange reason, compost is the answer to both problems. In clay soil, compost moves in between the soil particles and uses its large mass to break up the clumps, making a more friable soil. Water is held by the compost and is taken by the pls as needed. After a rain or ering the er is able to move downward but is also held by the composting material to be available for a long time. The drying surface is broken up by organic matter so as not to form a hard surface but rather one t breathes.

In sandy soil the opposite happens. Compost bonds to the soil particles and bridges some of the gaps, allowing more er to stay near the surface and be available to pl roots. Not only does the available food in the soil stay near the pl roots but the compost itself adds to the nutrient value of the soil.

Add compost for healthy soil. Healthy soil grows healthy pls.