If you notice your plants and flowers looking rough, no matter how often you water them – Then topsoil amendments could be your answer! Notice dry and cracking soil in the bare spaces in your lawn and garden? Is overall growth and vegetation just stunted in your yard?
The sun is strongest during the summer months, notably at or around the June 21 summer solstice, due to longer days and more direct rays. However, the heat likely isn’t the only thing to blame for growth problems during these hot weather months. Another culprit is likely your soil. Yes, healthy soil helps provide the foundation for strong, resilient plants, which can thereby help them continue to grow and flourish at the hottest times of the year.
In this post, we’ll discuss how the summer heat can stress your soil and how the right topsoil amendments can restore moisture balance and nutrients to your garden. Read on to learn more or contact Kurtz Bros., Inc. today for more information.
Summer Soil Stress: What You Need to Know
Heat and sun can damage your garden’s soil structure and biology. High temperatures can deplete soil moisture and nutrients. For example, when temperatures regularly exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the microbial activity that’s essential for nutrient cycling in soil slows, thereby slowing plant growth.
Some signs of stressed soil include:
- Soil that has a hard or crusty texture.
- Yellowing plant leaves or obvious signs of stunted plant growth.
- Poor drainage and puddling.
- A lack of soil life (i.e., lack of worms or other soil organisms key to its health).
- Exposed roots, soil loss, and other signs of visible erosion.
If you notice any of these signs, your first instinct may be to ensure you’re watering more — but watering alone isn’t going to fix issues with stressed soil. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to the health of your soil and take the necessary steps to improve it.
Key Benefits of Topsoil Amendments
Topsoil amendments are materials that improve the properties of existing soil. Taking the necessary steps to amend garden soil can help ensure your plants continue to grow and thrive as temperatures rise this summer.
Some of the key benefits of topsoil amendments include:
- Improved soil structure: Amendments help break up compacted soil and improve drainage, especially in clay-heavy soils. Compost and manure amendments add essential nutrients to the soil structure to increase organic matter and enhance microbial activity.
- Increase water retention and drainage: Topsoil amendments help improve water retention, thereby preventing plants from drying out. This is especially important if your property has sandy soil that tends to dry out easily. Conversely, certain amendments can help create air pockets in the soil, which can help with drainage in clay-heavy soils.
- Optimize pH levels: pH impacts how well plants absorb nutrients from the soil they’re planted in. It can also influence the amount of microorganisms that decompose soil matter and release nutrients back to the soil. The right amendments can help create the perfect environment for your plants by optimizing the pH.
Topsoil Options Ideal for Midwest Summers
How you amend your soil will largely depend on the current state of your soil and what you’re trying to grow. Some of the best topsoil options for Midwest summers include:
- Kurtz Bros Premium Topsoil: This is an ideal option for improving basic soil structure in gardens and flower beds.
- Garden SuperSoil: An ideal option for vegetable gardens or raised planters.
- Compost: Compost helps enhance soil structure, improve water retention, and enhance nutrient content. It also helps introduce microbes, assists with aeration, and reduces compaction.
- Peat and Soil Conditioner: This is an ideal option for loosening up compacted soils and for helping to restore proper pH balance.
Where and How to Apply Topsoil in the Summer
Topsoil amendments are best applied around shallow-rooted plants like flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They can also be used as a top dressing for vegetable beds or applied to amend problem spots in your yard that are yielding poor plant growth.
How the topsoil is applied largely depends on the type of plant you’re adding it around and the location of the plant. Here’s a look at the steps to take:
- Prep the area: Remove any debris, weeds, or thatch, then lightly rake the area.
- Apply the topsoil: For existing plants, use the topsoil as a dressing and spread a thin layer (no greater than 1 inch) onto the soil surface. For new garden beds or in-between crops, place a 2-3-inch layer and mix it into the surface of the existing soil.
- Water thoroughly: Watering helps the amended soil settle and kickstarts microbial activity.
How to Maintain Soil Health
While summer topsoil amendments can help restore your soil, consider taking various steps to maintain your soil year-round. Here’s a look at some tips:
- Mulch following soil amendments to maximize cover and lock in moisture.
- Water deeply and infrequently to encourage better root growth. This practice also helps make your plants more resilient to drought and heat stress.
- Perform regular soil testing to know the health of your soil and better plan for amendments.
- Keep garden beds covered between plantings to avoid soil erosion and nutrient depletion.
Ready to Revive Your Garden? Contact Kurtz Bros., Inc. Today
Are you ready to revive your garden and flower beds? Contact Kurtz today for more information about topsoil amendments and how you can keep your garden thriving in the dog days of summer.
