Soil Types
Episode: SA Waterwise Special – Our Changing Climate
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Adelaide has huge range of different soils, from the thin shaly crust at Belair, heavy clay in Salisbury, grey sand in North Haven and everything in between. No matter what soil type you have, spending time improving it will be the best investment you can give your plants. Kim gives some advice on a few things you can do to turn your brown dust into pay dirt!
One of the main soil types around Adelaide is Clay. In summer, it can set like concrete making digging extremely difficult, while in winter it sticks like glue to your spade and boots.
Begin by digging over your clay soil it could take a bit of elbow grease and some heavy duty tools to break up the ground. Gypsum is clays best friend, it helps to break up clay and really improve drainage so it is good to spread it around at about a one kilogram to a square metre.
Organic matter is an important soil tonic - compost is a great source of nutrient along with well aged manure and worm castings. There is also plenty of commercial soil conditioners available too.
Organic matter feeds your soil microbes and enriches the garden. If you add a product like Blood and Bone to your soil and mix in well, it will be ready for any new plants.
Unlike other capital cities, Adelaide has alkaline soils these tend to lock up some nutrients like iron, causing yellow leaves on some plants. A good dose of iron chelate will generally green up these plants in no time.
Another soil type is Sand. This has the opposite problem to clay it drains too well and can’t hold enough moisture causing plants to stress. Also, Fertilizers and nutrients simply wash right past plant the roots and are wasted.
The number one thing needed here is organic material, it is like a sponge, soaking up moisture and holding it for the plants to use. Again, compost, well aged manure and a range of other products can be added. The more the merrier.
Once you have prepared your soil, then planting is a breeze. Add a good handful of hydrated water crystals, which act like a reservoir for new plants if the ground dries out. Always water any new plant in well, a seaweed extract mixed in helps roots establish quickly. Of course a good layer of mulch is a must, around 100 millimetres thick, to keep valuable moisture in the ground.
Then regular watering and feeding will keep your plants growing beautifully.
No matter what Adelaide soil you have, spending time getting the ground right will simply give your plants the best start.
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Adelaide has huge range of different soils, from the thin shaly crust at Belair, heavy clay in Salisbury, grey sand in North Haven and everything in between. No matter what soil type you have, spending time improving it will be the best investment you can give your plants. Kim gives some advice on a few things you can do to turn your brown dust into pay dirt!
One of the main soil types around Adelaide is Clay. In summer, it can set like concrete making digging extremely difficult, while in winter it sticks like glue to your spade and boots.
Begin by digging over your clay soil it could take a bit of elbow grease and some heavy duty tools to break up the ground. Gypsum is clays best friend, it helps to break up clay and really improve drainage so it is good to spread it around at about a one kilogram to a square metre.
Organic matter is an important soil tonic - compost is a great source of nutrient along with well aged manure and worm castings. There is also plenty of commercial soil conditioners available too.
Organic matter feeds your soil microbes and enriches the garden. If you add a product like Blood and Bone to your soil and mix in well, it will be ready for any new plants.
Unlike other capital cities, Adelaide has alkaline soils these tend to lock up some nutrients like iron, causing yellow leaves on some plants. A good dose of iron chelate will generally green up these plants in no time.
Another soil type is Sand. This has the opposite problem to clay it drains too well and can’t hold enough moisture causing plants to stress. Also, Fertilizers and nutrients simply wash right past plant the roots and are wasted.
The number one thing needed here is organic material, it is like a sponge, soaking up moisture and holding it for the plants to use. Again, compost, well aged manure and a range of other products can be added. The more the merrier.
Once you have prepared your soil, then planting is a breeze. Add a good handful of hydrated water crystals, which act like a reservoir for new plants if the ground dries out. Always water any new plant in well, a seaweed extract mixed in helps roots establish quickly. Of course a good layer of mulch is a must, around 100 millimetres thick, to keep valuable moisture in the ground.
Then regular watering and feeding will keep your plants growing beautifully.
No matter what Adelaide soil you have, spending time getting the ground right will simply give your plants the best start.
AS SEEN ON 
