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There are many ways to improve topsoil and ensure that its health is assured, but whichever method is chosen, this will depend on the topsoil’s quality in the first place.

One of the most useful things for the gardener to learn is to understand the workings of what is known as topsoil balance. The chemistry and physics of topsoil can be learnt from topsoil balance. The balance between nutrients, biology and topsoil structure is one of the benefits about understanding the physics and chemistry of topsoil.

One system that ensures topsoil balance is correct is known as the Mikhail system. This system of topsoil balancing focuses firstly on the soil’s structure which enables good friability and topsoil composition so that living organisms can flourish. Topsoil is a little like the body of humans which needs a skeleton on which its other body components can be attached. Potassium, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Sodium and Calcium are all essential elements in good healthy Topsoil.

Biology and nutrients are kept in order within the topsoil by use of the Mikhail system. The structure then also needs to be balanced. Plant life needs the following vital elements for nutrition; Potassium, Sulphur, Nitrogen and Phosphorous. Once the topsoil’s structure has significantly improved and balance corrected, then fertiliser can be added to maintain the correct levels of these elements. NPK is one of the most well-known fertilisers available and it can be found in almost all general garden fertilisers. Topsoils also need to have the correct levels of trace elements.

One way to find out where topsoil is failing in terms of make-up is by testing it. Using soil testing apparatus is the perfect way to test the soil and get the necessary information for making improvements. The required fertiliser, lime and other soil improving material can then be obtained to ensure that the topsoil performs better.

Understanding about soil is not everyone’s idea of a good time, but for the gardener, it is essential. Below are five things you possibly don’t already know about soil.

One: It is a known fact that an estimated 25 per cent of all the world’s soil is being degraded through intensive agricultural practices such as tilling and poor crop rotation.

Secondly, about 10 tonnes of living organisms can be found in 1 acre of soil.

3. About 10 percent of all the land on Earth is used to grow the food that feed the cattle that then feeds people.

Fourthly, It’s incredible to think that plants’ roots search through the soil to find new areas of moisture at a rate of one half an inch per day.

5. During the period of a year, earthworms can eat, digest and recycle an astonishing thirty-six tons of soil which helps make it more rich.

6. At least 1 million earthworms could possibly be found in just one acre of rich grass land – although counting them might be a problem.

Seven: Bizarre as this might sound, a single spade of soil has the potential to contain more living organism species than in the entire Amazon rain forest above ground.

8. Some wildlife that likes to bury nuts and seeds into soil to keep them safe, are actually helping soil get richer as the items decompose over time.

Nineth, all the men women and children in the world wouldn’t add up to more than the number of clay particles that could be counted in one handful of clay.

Tenth, soil is made up from minerals, air, water and organic matter at 45 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent and 5 percent respectively.

Soil is clearly a massive subject and to know everything about it could take you some time. The list aims to give the most incredible soil information to those with little time to learn more by themselves.

For those who enjoy gardening with plants, shrubs, flowers or vegetables, the one of most important aspect is the quality of your soil. The soil make-up can vary drastically from one area to another, and this can make a real difference to what you decide to grow.

Soil can be broken down into some relatively straightforward kinds, which, as a beginner in the garden or as someone who’s keen to understand the differences and how these affect plant growth, these should be understood.

The first kind of soil we’re talking about here is clay soil. Clay soils are called so because they are heavy in clay content, which makes them heavy, sticky and often wetter than other soils. Clay soils are prone to poor drainage because of the lack of air and therefore become waterlogged easily. In order to make clay soil easier to work with, sand could be added to loosen it up. Well drained clay soil will make vegetation grow superbly due to the remarkable levels of plant nutrients in clay compounds.

Sand heavy soils are often much thinner and grittier than clay soils, draining well and offering less nutrients for plants The addition of organic matter to sandy soil will enable it to retain moisture and plant nutrients making it a great for growing and easy to work.

Finally, chalky soil is a gardener’s nightmare and if possible it should be avoided if you’re a keen gardener. Chalk soil can contain a lot of stones and it’s often found to be the cause of yellowing leaves as water drains away too quickly and essential nutrients are blocked.

Other types of soil can be classed as peaty or silty, but here are the main kinds to look out for. Almost all soil can be utilised by skilful gardeners, but chalky soil can require so many additional nutrients and organic matter that it makes the job seem worthless.

There are many ways to improve topsoil and ensure that its health is assured, but whichever method is chosen, this will depend on the topsoil’s quality in the first place.

Soil balance is a useful way for garden keepers to learn about the workings of their topsoil and therefore to be able to improve it. The balance of topsoil is a great way to learn about the chemical and physical properties of topsoil. It includes understanding topsoil physics, chemistry and biology which help to make sure that the topsoil’s structure, nutrients and biology are all balanced perfectly.

One system that ensures topsoil balance is correct is known as the Mikhail system. Using this system of topsoil management gives the soil friability and helps living organisms and to survive giving better soil composition and structure. Topsoil is a little like the body of humans which needs a skeleton on which its other body components can be attached. In soil, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Hydrogen are all elements essential to keeping the structure healthy.

The balance between biology and nutrients are maintained through use of the Mikhail system as well. Balancing the structure is then important. Plant life needs the following vital elements for nutrition; Potassium, Sulphur, Nitrogen and Phosphorous. Fertilisers can be added to provide a needed nutrient boost once the topsoil structure has been improved. NPK is one of the most well-known fertilisers available and it can be found in almost all general garden fertilisers. Topsoils also need to have the correct levels of trace elements.

One way to find out where topsoil is failing in terms of make-up is by testing it. Using soil testing apparatus is the perfect way to test the soil and get the necessary information for making improvements. The required fertiliser, lime and other soil improving material can then be obtained to ensure that the topsoil performs better.

Learning what makes soil can be useful for gardeners even if most people find it a particularly dry subject For those that get excited by soil, here are five things you may not already know.

Firstly, it’s a well-known fact amongst soil circles that about 25% of all the Earth’s soil is being destroyed by over-farming and poor agricultural techniques.

Secondly, about 10 tonnes of living organisms can be found in 1 acre of soil.

3. About 10 percent of all the land on Earth is used to grow the food that feed the cattle that then feeds people.

Four: The roots of plants can move through soil at the astonishing rate of half an inch a day in order to find moisture.

Five: Earthworms are quite incredible because over a 12 month period they can digest up to 36 tonnes of soil, recycling it to make for a richer soil.

Sixthly, if you were to count all the earthworms in a single acre of grassed pasture, you could be looking at a number close to a million.

Seventh, a single spade holding soil in all likeliness contains more living species than does the whole of the Amazon rain forest above the soil.

Eighth, as seeds, nuts and other things buried by wild creatures in the soil decompose, the soil benefits from the added material making it richer and more nutritious and improved.

9. If one was to count all of the people in the entire world, there would still be more clay particles in one handful of clay.

Ten: Most soil samples would contain a breakdown of the following; 45% minerals, 25% air, 25% water and 5% organic matter.

Soil is clearly a massive subject and to know everything about it could take you some time. However, most people don’t have that much spare time to learn about soil, and so this list points out the most interesting.

The importance and quality of your soil as a gardener should not be underestimated, especially if you’re proud of your flowering plants an prize winning vegetables. Soil is one of the most variable components of successful gardening, and the soils composition will have an impact on decisions of what to grow.

New gardeners and people wanting to learn the key types of differing soil could do well to remember the basic descriptions of soil.

Firstly we’ll look at clay soil. Soils that are heavy in clay are called clay soils, making them more wet and sticky as well as heavy than many other types. Waterlogged soils are often clay heavy because they do not drain very well. In order to make clay soil easier to work with, sand could be added to loosen it up. Well drained clay soil will make vegetation grow superbly due to the remarkable levels of plant nutrients in clay compounds.

Soil with a high sand content is often very easily drained and contains less nutrients due to the easier floe of water through it. Sandy soil with a good organic matter content should be able to hold enough moisture and nutrients to make it very successful as a growing medium.

Lastly, if you’re an enthusiastic gardener it makes sense to avoid chalky soil because these are the very worst quality that could be hoped for. Chalk soil can contain a lot of stones and it’s often found to be the cause of yellowing leaves as water drains away too quickly and essential nutrients are blocked.

These are just some of the types of soil that one can encounter with others being peaty and silty soils. Almost all soil can be utilised by skilful gardeners, but chalky soil can require so many additional nutrients and organic matter that it makes the job seem worthless.

If you’ve ever thought a lot about topsoil then you’re in a very small minority of people. Topsoil doesn’t carry the same amount of delight as talking about the winner of the best pumpkin competition.

Topsoil is actually a fascinating subject and should become the darling of any gardening chat. There are two things that make topsoil so interesting.

The most important fact is that without topsoil, we would need to fight for our survival with every living being here on earth.

Without a topsoil of good quality it becomes ever more tricky for the gardener to grow the best plants and veg. Whether a gardener needs new topsoil will depend on how well the existing soil has been looked after.

The main things to look for in your topsoil is the texture because this will give away the amount of organic matter that has been assimilated into the overall topsoil composition. A crumbly texture that has a little weight too it, holds enough water and moisture to make it feel damp to the touch, but not dripping, is about how it needs to feel.

If your topsoil fails the texture test, then it’s always worth adding some organic matter to enrich the soil. Using farmyard manure with plenty of straw mixed into it will do the topsoil a world of good, especially if left over the winter to breakdown.

Some topsoil however will not improve no matter how much you add quality enhancers, and when this is the case, it’s time to buy new topsoil.

Meeting the British safety regulations means that the topsoil from a certain supplier will be the very best and won’t be contaminated or dangerous.