Growing
Healthy Soil

Healthy Soil
An Investment In Your
Garden

Did you know that by simply improving your soil, you can beautify your garden, cut your water bill, improve water quality in our streams, and even reduce your work? Growing healthy soil — and a healthy garden — is as easy as adding compost and other organic amendments to your soil. In fact, this is the single most important thing you can do for your garden.
“Compost” is the dark, earthy material naturally produced by decaying plants and animal wastes. This mix of living and dead organic matter supports an intricate web of soil life, which in turn keeps your soil loose, moisture-holding, fertile and well-drained. The following three steps for growing healthy soil are explained in this factsheet:

1. Before planting, amend the soil throughout the entire planting area with compost.
2. Mulch existing plantings with compost, leaves, grass clippings or woody mulches.
3. When you need to feed plants, use natural organic and slowrelease fertilizers.

Understand Your Soil

“Dirt” is the mineral portion of the soil that supports plants, supplies nutrients and stores water. There are three general types of soil, determined by the size of the soil particles. These affect how the soil functions. You may have more than one kind of soil in different areas of your garden.
Sandy soils contain large particles which are visible to the naked eye. They feel gritty and will not form a ball when squeezed in your hand. Sandy soils are loose and drain easily, but do not store water or nutrients for plants. Clay soils are made up of tiny particles that feel sticky when wet, and dry into dense chunks or fine powder. They hold nutrients and water well, but drain poorly. Loamy soils are a mix of sand, clay and organic matter. When squeezed in your hand, moist loam forms a ball which crumbles when poked with a finger. Loamy soils are generally loose, well-drained and able to store moisture and nutrients. Air and water are essential elements that transport nutrients to plants and carry away waste. Together, they make up half the volume of healthy soil. Compacted or heavy clay soils may not have adequate space for air and water to move freely to plant roots. Organic matter and soil life make up just a small part of the soil volume, but are the glue that holds healthy soil together. Decomposing plant materials (like compost) support a great variety of beneficial organisms ranging from microscopic bacteria to earthworms. Organic matter and soil life keep plants healthy by:

• supplying balanced nutrients to growing plants.
• fighting plant diseases and pests.
• storing fertilizers and natural nutrients for gradual release, while preventing them from washing into streams.
• storing water, which reduces runoff and your garden’s irrigation needs.
• making clay soils better drained and easier to work.
• trapping and breaking down pesticide residues and
• polluted runoff.
• Think twice before using pesticides that may damage
• soil life.
• Don’t overfertilize: more is not better.
• Don’t overwater: overwatering can promote plant
• disease and exclude air from roots.
• Prevent soil compaction. This means walking on

garden beds as little as possible, keeping heavy equipment and cars off lawns, and minimizing the use of rototillers. Excessive use of chemicals, overwatering and soil compaction can harm beneficial soil organisms and reduce their ability to keep soil healthy.

Mulch your Plantings

"Mulch" refers to a material placed on the soil’s surface. (Although usually organic, mulches can also be products such as landscape fabric.) Mulches reduce evaporation, limit weed growth, minimize soil temperature fluctuations, and limit soil runoff that can choke streams and fish. Most mulch products provide these benefits, but organic mulches — such as compost or bark — can be especially beneficial because earthworms and other soil life gradually break them down, mixing them into the soil to nourish plants.

When
• Apply annually or as needed.
• Mulch in early summer to conserve moisture, feed plants and prevent weed seeds from sprouting.
• Mulch in fall to protect soil from erosion, smother weeds and retain warmth.

Where
• Mulch annual and perennial planting beds, as well as the surface of container plantings.

• Cover entire tree and shrub planting beds, or make mulch rings at least 3 feet wide around each plant in lawns.

• Keep mulch a few inches away from stems, crown and trunks to prevent rot and pest damage.

How

Remove weeds and grass before spreading mulches. Use porous weed barriers such as woven landscape fabric or cardboard to smother aggressive perennial weeds before mulching.

How Much
• Grass clippings: 1/2 to 1 inch deep Compost, leaves, sawdust, medium- or fine-ground bark: 1/2 to 2 inches deep
• Coarsely shredded bark, wood chips or tree trimmings: 2 to 4 inches deep

Note: One cubic foot of mulch covers 12 square feet 1
inch deep.One cubic yard will cover 324 square feet 1
inch deep, or 108 square feet 3 inches deep.


Fertilize Moderately and Responsibly

Fertilize moderately with natural organic and slow-release fertilizers to grow healthy, easy-to-maintain plants. Too much fertilizer can produce excess growth that is easily damaged by pests, wind, frost and drought. Many of the nutrients in quick-release fertilizers may wash off to pollute lakes, streams and groundwater. Most established trees and shrubs do not need regular fertilization. Mulching can provide all their nutrient needs in most cases. Even heavy feeders like roses, annuals and flowering perennials take in adequate nutrients through yearly compost applications.
When choosing a fertilizer, look for the words “natural/organic” or “slow-release” on the fertilizer bag. Though these fertilizers may cost more, they offer better value and greater protection of water quality as more of their nutrients actually feed plants, instead of washing into streams or groundwater. “Natural organic fertilizers” include rock phosphate and other minerals, plant products such as alfalfa meal, as well as animal byproducts like bone or fish meal. Most nutrients in natural fertilizers must be digested by bacteria before they dissolve in water and plants can use them. These nutrients are slowly released when warm soil stimulates the bacteria, which is when they are needed by actively growing plants.
“Slow-release fertilizers” such as sulfur-coated urea become available as outer coatings are dissolved by moisture and soil bacteria when plants are actively growing. “Quick-release fertilizers” like urea and ammonium sulfate quickly dissolve in water. They wash through the soil with rain or irrigation if not immediately used by plants or absorbed by organic matter

WOMEN STAY HEALTHY AT ANY AGE

Your Checklist
for Health

The information in this fact sheet is based on research findings from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The
USPSTF is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care. The Task Force, which is supported by AHRQ, conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling, and preventive medications. Its recommendations are considered the gold standard for clinical preventive services. Put Prevention Into Practice, part of the AHRQ Dissemination and Implementation Program, is designed to increase the appropriate use of clinical preventive services, such as screening tests, preventive medications, and counseling. Based on the recommendations of the USPSTF and Government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Put Prevention Into Practice tools and resources help clinicians determine which preventive services their patients should receive and make it easier for patients to participate in, understand, and keep track of their preventive care. For more information about USPSTF recommendations and Put Prevention Into Practice, go to the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality Web site at:
www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

The most important things you can do to stay healthy are:
Get recommended screening tests • Be tobacco free • Be physically active
Eat a healthy diet • Stay at a healthy weight • Take preventive medicines if you need them.

Screening Tests for Women: What You Need and When

Screening tests can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Health experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have made recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about testing for the conditions below. Talk to your doctor about which ones apply to you and when and how often you should be tested. Obesity: Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.) You can also find your own BMI with the BMI calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

Breast Cancer: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
Cervical Cancer: Have a Pap smear every
1 to 3 years if you:
– Have ever been sexually active.
– Are between the ages of 21 and 65.
High Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about whether to have your cholesterol checked if:
– You have diabetes or high blood pressure
– Heart disease runs in your family.
– You smoke.
High Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. Colorectal Cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be tested earlier.

Diabetes: Have a test for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt “down,” sad, or hopeless over the last 2 weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.
Osteoporosis (Thinning of the Bones):
Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about being tested. Chlamydia and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Have a test for chlamydia if you are 25 or younger and sexually active. If you are older, talk to your doctor about being tested. Also ask whether you should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases. HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV
infection if you:
– Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners.
– Are pregnant.
– Have used or now use injection drugs.
– Exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do.
– Have past or present sex partners who are
HIV-infected, are bisexual, or use injection drugs.
– Are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
– Had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.

Daily Steps to Health
Don’t Smoke. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. If you are pregnant and smoke, quitting now will help you and your baby. Your doctor or nurse can help you. And, you can also help yourself. For tips on how to quit, go to:
You Can Quit Smoking Now.
http://www.smokefree.gov. To talk to someone about how to quit, call the National Quitline: 1-
800-QUITNOW. For more quit-smoking resources, go to: http://www.healthfinder.gov/, and search for “smoking.” Be Physically Active. Walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are just a few examples of moderate physical activity. If you are not already physically active, start small and work up to 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Eat a Healthy Diet. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
Stay at a Healthy Weight. Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by your activities. To prevent gradual weight gain over time, make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity. Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) If you are pregnant, avoid alcohol. A good place to find reliable health information is
at: www.healthfinder.gov

Should You Take Medicines to Prevent Disease?
Hormones: Do not take hormones to prevent disease. Talk to your doctor if you need relief from the symptoms of menopause.
Breast Cancer Drugs: If your mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking medicines to prevent breast cancer.
Aspirin: Ask your doctor about taking aspirin to prevent heart disease if you are:
– Older than 45.
– Younger than 45 and:
• Have high blood pressure.
• Have high cholesterol.
• Have diabetes.
• Smoke.
Immunizations: Stay up-to-date with your immunizations.
– Have a flu shot every year starting at age 50. If you are younger than 50, ask your doctor whether you need a flu shot.
– Have a pneumonia shot once after you turn 65. If you are younger, ask your doctor whether you need a pneumonia shot.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide more information on immunizations at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm.

Women’s Screening Test Checklist

Take this checklist with you to your doctor’s office. Write down when you have any of the tests below. Talk to your doctor about your test results and write them down here. Ask when you should have the test next. Write down the month and year. If you think of questions for the doctor, write them down and bring them to your next visit. thangks