“Gucci Dirt”

Most of us have heard the saying: “Good, Fast, Cheap – pick 2.” Meaning something can be GOOD and FAST but it won’t be CHEAP (think Chick-fil-A, who I will gladly give most of my money to any day of the week). Or, something can be FAST and CHEAP but it won’t be GOOD (think gas station sushi). Or, something can be CHEAP and GOOD but it won’t be FAST (think growing your own veggies).

This idea can be applied to so many things in life – especially ingredients for a garden. As a general rule in life, I want most things CHEAP and FAST. However, when it comes to gardening, there is one area where I’ve found you must sacrifice the CHEAP: soil.

Soil is the foundation of your garden and, until you have spent money on “the good stuff,” you really don’t know what you’re missing.

A few years ago I came across a company called Soil3 – they make compost mixes for gardens. But the cost – YIKES! I finally decided I would make the leap and give it a try. They definitely check the box for GOOD and FAST (they will deliver it right to your driveway, usually within a few days of ordering) and the soil contains everything your plants need. No more money spent on all the fertilizers and worm castings and compost and mulch and growth stimulators – it’s all in one bag. And organic! After a couple of growing seasons, I became an evangelist for this company and urged my customers to give them a try as well. When I tell you my growing seasons have become nearly fail-proof, I am not exaggerating.

My daughter calls it Gucci Dirt – I call it Magic.

(I am not getting compensated in any way by Soil3 however I would love to if they are reading this!)

Playing in the Gucci dirt!

3 Bad Soil Ideas I Have Tried So You Do Not Have To:

·      Do not fill part of your garden bed with trash in an attempt to shrink the amount of dirt needed to fill your bed. Other than leafy greens and herbs*, veggies need a solid 16” of soil depth to pull all the nutrients they need from the soil. The deeper your soil, the better. You will notice that the soil naturally compacts and gets used up by the plants during the season meaning your soil level will drop. This is completely normal and another reason why you need a solid 16” of soil for the plant babies.

*if you are only growing leafy greens and herbs, 12” of soil will work fine

·      Do not empty your garden bed of soil before each growing season. When you are ready to start your new planting season, top off your beds with high quality organic compost (like Soil3). No need to start from scratch!

·      Do not “till” your soil before each growing season (assuming you used really good soil and are planting in a raised bed). There is a vast microbiome network underneath the surface of the soil created by the plant roots, bacteria and microorganisms. Tilling the soil disturbs the network and you lose the beneficial properties that were in place prior to tilling.

There are endless ways to spend money when it comes to gardening. But if you don’t have a solid foundation for the plants you are growing, all the gadgets in the world won’t be very helpful. I challenge you to take a chance this season and invest in your garden soil - you won’t regret it!

Love,

The Lazy Gardener