So what exactly is organic soil? Isn’t all soil “organic” since it’s soil?
Not necessarily. One way that may be easier to think about it is to substitute the word “organic” for the word “living.” Organic soil is a soil that is created by the decomposition of plant and animal materials to create a nutrient and mineral rich mini-ecosystem with microorganisms that feed and breathe life back into the soil. Or, to put it another way, organic soil is how soil exists in nature. Before chemicals were added. Before synthetic and modified ingredients depleted the soil of its natural power, this is how soil existed. Think of the forest floor. Leaves and trees fall, fruits and vegetables grow and are eaten, animals feed and leave waste. All of this activity directly impacts the soil and creates a power-packed foundation for future growth. It creates a soil that is “living.”
Why use Organic Soil In Your Garden Bed?
So now you know what organic soil is, but what are the benefits of using it? There are quite a lot actually. The most obvious one is the environmentally friendly aspect of it. Mixing an organic garden soil with the native soil found in your garden bed is adding material made up of all-natural ingredients. Simply put, it is putting soil made from the environment, back into the environment. That creates soil sustainability that over time continues to further enrich your native soil. What does that mean for you? More lush, healthier plants, fruits and vegetables that are safe for you and your family and safe for the environment.
Organic soils can also save you time and money. Adding organic material to native soil helps contribute to the balance of drainage and retention of water. In most cases, organic material helps keep water in the soil longer than synthetic soils. This means that what you are growing will have better access to the water it needs and that translates to less frequent watering.
Organic soils can help your plants resist pests and disease. Because organic soil is composed of nutrient and mineral-rich elements, your plants will grow stronger cell walls, giving them added layers of protection from pests and disease. The nutrients in organic garden soils also provide natural protection making plants more resistant to diseases. All of this adds up to stronger pest and diseases resistant plants.
by Kellog Garden
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