Turning Colorado's Challenging Dirt into Rich Garden Soil
Dirt or soil? That is the question.
Gardening in Colorado presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to the soil - or should we say, dirt? Understanding the difference and how to transform dirt into a plant-friendly medium is key to the success of your backyard garden in Denver.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Understanding Colorado's Native Dirt
Transforming Dirt into Nutrient-Rich Soil
Break and Screen
Choosing the Right Organic Matter
Auntie M’s Approach
Understanding Colorado's Native Dirt
In Colorado, our native dirt is often a compacted clay with minimal nutrients, containing high levels of rock or gravel.
This composition, especially in new developments, offers only about 30% pore space for air and water, hindering root growth and nutrient uptake.
Additionally, issues like high salt content or construction debris can affect plant health.
Turning Dirt into Nutrient-Rich Soil
We do need those minerals from our native dirt to make our soil a healthy place to grow in. So how do we go from dirt to soil?
Break and Screen: Start by breaking apart the native dirt and screening it through a ½ inch mesh. This process helps remove debris and large clay clumps, improving the soil structure for root development.
Choose the Right Organic Matter: The second step is to find organic matter from the appropriate sources. Be cautious with manure, as it can introduce unwanted elements like E. coli or weed seeds. Instead, opt for OMRI-certified compost, especially for edible plants, to ensure your homegrown food is as healthy as possible.
A well-managed Western soil has 25% air, 25% water, 1-5% organic matter and 45-49% mineral solids.
Auntie M's Garden Approach
At Auntie M's Garden, we've crafted a proprietary blend that brings life to Colorado soils.
Our mix includes screened native topsoil for minerals, OMRI-certified organic compost for organic matter, and beneficial microorganisms and fungi.
This blend creates a light, nutrient-rich soil with ample pore space for air and water, fostering robust plant growth.
(Contact us for info)
Transforming Colorado's challenging dirt into fertile soil may seem daunting, but with the right techniques, it's entirely possible. By understanding your soil's composition and enriching it appropriately, you can create a thriving garden, even in our unique climate.
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
