Prepare to Win - It All Begins in the Soil
By: Chris VanCleave, Chairman Helena Beautification Board
Helena Beautification Board Vice Chairman Brian Puckett takes a soil sample in preparation for planting at the Old Town strip.
"The will to win is not nearly so important as the will to prepare to win." – Vince Lombardi
Success in growing doesn’t just happen. It takes time and preparation. This Spring, the Helena Beautification Board will install a new bed of plantings in Old Town. We are already at work planning. First, the soil. Alabama red clay abounds in this area and Old Town certainly has its share. This week, we took soil samples to be tested at the soil testing lab at Auburn University to determine the quality of the soil. (insert photo) This is an important first step in any garden. It is from the soil that all things grow. You might have a mass of blooms on top of the soil, but beneath the earth is where the real work is happening. A solid organic soil base will provide a firm foundation with which we can grow. In my own garden, I use a very simple soil mix. I mix equal parts of top soil and composted cow manure for edibles and for flowers, I add mini pine bark nuggets to the mix which produces a very friable soil.
To obtain a soil test kit:
Contact the Shelby County Cooperative Extension Office to obtain a soil test kit at (205) 669-6763 or visit their website: http://offices.aces.edu/shelby/
To learn more about the soil lab at Auburn, visit the Alabama Cooperative Extension office at Auburn. There you will find a wealth of resources on soil analysis and amendments for home gardeners. Check out their site at http://www.aces.edu/anr/soillab/forms/index.php
Something as simple taking the time to prepare a soil test can set the stage for a bountiful harvest this summer.
Success in growing doesn’t just happen. It takes time and preparation. This Spring, the Helena Beautification Board will install a new bed of plantings in Old Town. We are already at work planning. First, the soil. Alabama red clay abounds in this area and Old Town certainly has its share. This week, we took soil samples to be tested at the soil testing lab at Auburn University to determine the quality of the soil. (insert photo) This is an important first step in any garden. It is from the soil that all things grow. You might have a mass of blooms on top of the soil, but beneath the earth is where the real work is happening. A solid organic soil base will provide a firm foundation with which we can grow. In my own garden, I use a very simple soil mix. I mix equal parts of top soil and composted cow manure for edibles and for flowers, I add mini pine bark nuggets to the mix which produces a very friable soil.
To obtain a soil test kit:
Contact the Shelby County Cooperative Extension Office to obtain a soil test kit at (205) 669-6763 or visit their website: http://offices.aces.edu/shelby/
To learn more about the soil lab at Auburn, visit the Alabama Cooperative Extension office at Auburn. There you will find a wealth of resources on soil analysis and amendments for home gardeners. Check out their site at http://www.aces.edu/anr/soillab/forms/index.php
Something as simple taking the time to prepare a soil test can set the stage for a bountiful harvest this summer.
Nicknamed "The Redneck Rosarian", Chris VanCleave is passionate about gardening and growing roses. He is an active member of the Birmingham chapter of the American Rose Society, serving two terms as President. In 2007, he created the Rose Chat Podcast which has reached over a half a million listeners with news and information on growing the world's most beloved flower, the rose. He was a contributor to the 2015 Southern Living Gardening Book, has appeared on P. Allen Smith's Garden Home television show and was featured in the June 2015 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Locally, Chris serves as Chairman of the Helena Beautification Board where he has spearheaded efforts to create a sustainable landscape in one of the Top 100 places to live in the US. His writing is seen on About.com, HGTV, Home Depot Gardening Club and on his popular website; RedneckRosarian.com, where he chronicles his gardening adventures and explores an intrinsic mix of life, faith and gardening. An agent of change with over 20 years' experience in process innovation, Mr. VanCleave is leading the charge to reinvigorate horticulture societies and helping them to reach their full potential in the social media age.