A successful landscaped home and garden here in Central Florida begins with the soil. But what about the soil? Approximately 5% of good soil is made up of organic matter. It may not sound like a lot, but this 5% is the foundation for the remaining 95% ( which includes air, water, and diverse forms of minerals) necessary to sustain the growth of healthy plants.
Organic Matter, What Is It?
Organic soil is comprised of matter in the soil that is either living or was living. This can include fungi, worms, plant roods, and bacteria. Whether they exist in decomposing or living form. Eventually, the living matter will die off, decompose, and feed the living matter in the soil.
What About Synthetic Fertilizer
Feeding your landscape or garden soil with synthetic fertilizer was thought to be the go to answer for healthy plants. But not anymore.
When you add synthetic fertilizer to your soil, the synthetic nutrients seeps into the soil, where it is immediately ready for your plants. Unfortunately, the roots can easily over indulge, taking up too much of the synthetic nutrients. This typically burns the plant foliage. What fertilizer is left in the soil is washed away and eventually ends up in our lakes and water supply.
Organic Matter
Organic matter such as mulch, slowly releases nutrients at it decomposes. These vital organic are constantly being released into the soil where they are taken up by the roots of the plant and feed the organisms living in the soil.
“The organic matter in your soil is releasing nutrients at a rate that is proportional to your plants needs.” According to Joe Gardener, The Simple Science Behind Great Gardening with Lee Reich. “The organic matter in your soil is also what helps to hold healthy quantities of oxygen and water. It creates more pore space for oxygen and hydrogen molecules, so your plant roots can breathe and receive moisture at optimal levels.”
