HERITAGE HAUNTS: Going Wild with Natives - Soil Health: A Radical Approach
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
By Susan Krzywicki, for a previous edition of Let's Talk Plants!
Soil Health: A Radical Approach
Our gardening world is oftentimes a mystery, especially the hidden depths of our soils. Getting to know how “dirt” works is a good place to start with plant health. Of course, as a native plant advocate, I believe in this stack: native soils with native plants with native bees, birds and butterflies; with fresh clean air and water surrounding them.
But, how do you get there, and what are the benefits, and do the benefits outweigh the downsides?
Basic Four
Soils are a combination of minerals, organic matter and living organisms. Those living organisms are the key to successful gardens that copy the time-tested, long cycles of nature. Sometimes referred to as “biomimicry,” this strategy moves us away from short cuts and into a fascinating realm where all things are connected. The basic four organisms we need in our soils are: bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa. Bacteria form the most basic step: “food” for the rest of the cycle. Fungi create networks between plants and soil. Nematodes and protozoa are consumers of nutrients and other organisms, and they produce the building blocks of what we refer to as soil.
There is no such thing as “bad soil”
Many gardeners describe their soil as “bad,” especially if clay is present, and think that sandy loam soil is the holy grail. Gardeners feel forced to amend and compost and adjust their soil until it doesn’t resemble its natural state at all. This may be fine for vegetable gardening, which requires high levels of nitrogen in order to produce so prolifically. But if we are to garden sustainably, we must separate our gardening into separate zones, akin to the way we hydro zone for water use. Use your compost and water to sustain your tomatoes and beans. But in the use your compost and water to sustain your tomatoes and beans. But in the decorative parts of your garden, look to the soil as a guide for beauty and enjoyment: find native plants that prefer your soil conditions. For example, here are three plants that go together well in clay soils: California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Tecate Cypress (Hesperocyparis forbesii), and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). Voila! Instant garden design.
Act naturally for benefits to all
When you organize your landscape so that the high water, high nitrogen feeders are together, you can stop amending the remainder of your soil where the low nitrogen, low water users thrive. Mulch if you want, but skip the compost. A side benefit of this strategy is that your plants will not over-produce lots of leafy growth, which is only waiting to be pruned. Slow the growth cycle, improve plant health, and reduce green waste. The downside: where will we put all the compost being created by our green waste industry? But I am firmly convinced the benefits outweigh this.
Susan Krzywicki has been a native plant landscape designer in San Diego, as well as chair of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation Ocean Friendly Gardens Committee.
