The most important thing you can grow in your garden is topsoil. Healthy soil contains myriads of living organisms and is the foundation of every plant you'll grow. The slow, easy process of improving soil quality should be a regular focus of any gardener. It is especially important when growing new starts. Approaches to soil are as diverse as gardeners, but here are a few general tips to consider.
While every plant has specific tastes, most prefer a sandy loam over a clay based soil. Sand allows water to drain through without creating puddles and has much less tendency to clump and stick than clay does, so gardeners like working with it more. If you're making a batch of soil, you can start by obtaining a quantity of fill sand equal to about half your final target from almost any gravel mine. If you use beach sand, be sure the salt has been rinsed out of it.
Organic material is the most vital component of soil. Good mixes will often include several of these sources:
* Peat Moss. This living ingredient mixes very well and feeds other plant life. Please be sure your peat was not gathered through a process that destroys vital wetlands.
* Manure. You can get free fertilizer by cleaning out a barn, stable, or cage from almost any animal. Even human feces work well, as long as they are well composted to prevent contamination. Manure from big cats and other predators can help to keep deer and rabbits out of your garden. Some manure, such as chicken, is so high in nitrogen, it should sit for a year or so before use to prevent burning plants.
* Sawdust, especially rough cut from a big mill, is good for aeration and long term organic processes.
* Compost. Vegetable matter from the kitchen and garden can be piled together until it breaks down into soil. Worms eat the compost and their castings feed the plants.
Gardeners often find advantages in using water saving additives like perlite or vermiculite as well. Soil mixes can be tested and adjusted to have the right pH and nutrient content for the plants you plan to grow. Or you can play it by ear and experiment to see what works. Rest assured that the work you put into establishing healthy soil will pay off with healthier plants.