SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - (KELO.com) Now that the snow is gone, are you ready to get your garden started? Are you thinking about how all those fresh vegitables will taste at harvest time? The USDA has some great tips to get the best out of your garden this year, and every year. Four basic soil health principles can improve the productivity of the soil.
Keep the soil covered as much as possible: Applying or leaving plant residues or other suitable materials on the soil surface reduces evaporation and helps prevent erosion.
Disturb the soil as little as possible: "No-tilling" minimizes soil disturbance and protects microbial communities that reside in the soil.
Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed soil microbes: Keep living roots in the soil as long as possible provides soil microbes the habitat they need to survive.
Grow a variety of plants: A planned sequence increases organic soil matter and biodiversity in the soil.
To learn more about the hope in healthy soil, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov or call 888-LANDCARE.