Bailey Van Tassel

  • About
  • Blog
  • Garden Club
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Contact
hands in soil
22 Feb 2023
Gardening

Soil Amendments & Soil Health Basics

If you were a friend coming over for a cuppa Earl Grey one afternoon to chat gardening and asked for my input, here is what I’d say in regard to soil health. I’ll not bore you with all the science because we don’t have time for that. I want you to rush home and get started. So, here we go.

The health of any soil comes down to a few factors, primarily beginning with the type of soil that you personally have. 

There are three basic types of soil: 

  1. Sandy soil slips through your fingers and has a hard time retaining water and nutrients. 
  2. Clay soil is hard and sticky and has a hard time draining water. 
  3. Loamy soil is soft yet sticks together loosely and can hold and release water well. 

If you don’t have loamy soil, that is the goal. Loamy soil with good nutrients, a lot of microorganisms,  and a lot of worms living in there. 

The pH of your soil matters as well as some plants like more acidic soil, and some more alkaline or neutral. If you’re going to err, err on the side of acidic. However, testing for pH can be helpful if you think your soil is overall “good” but plants are struggling. 

Honestly, I’ve never tested any soil – I just amend my soil base (we have clay) and go from there. 

Soil Amendments

For almost ANY soil situation there are three basic amendments (these are things you add in) that I know will enhance the situation – even a beautiful loamy soil bed can benefit. 

  1. Compost 
  2. Worm castings
  3. Kelp meal 

These three things are what I add to the top of my raised beds each season. Compost is nutrient dense and lacks byproducts like wood. It balances out the soil and adds in great microorganisms. Worm castings are worm poop, full of great nutrition, and help with water retention and aeration. Kelp meal is great because it’s just dried seaweed and has the nutrients that are sought after for plants: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. It has over 70 vitamins and minerals and we love that!

I add about 3-4” of compost, a bag of worm castings, and a big scoop of kelp meal. 

From time to time I’ve used liquid fish emulsion or seaweed to “fertilize” beds, but make sure it’s organic and from clean byproducts. This adds great nutrients as well. Be sure to apply anything like this to the soil (not the leaves of plants) at dusk or later, so as not to burn plants. 

If you’re lacking worm activity, add worms, You can literally buy them on Amazon HERE. Worms are a key sign that good things are happening.

Tilling

I do not till my garden beds. I want the good microorganisms to stay intact. I want worms to stay hidden in the dark and I want tiny root systems to stay and feed the soil web. I do sometimes pull full plants out of beds, but also cut some just below the soil’s surface. The health of the plant will determine it. I don’t want pests or fungus to stick around, so always pull up plants that aren’t healthy. 

Another way to keep your soil healthy is to avoid synthetic fertilizers and to use natural remedies instead. Thingks live chive spray to prevent mildew and comfrey fertilizer to add some nitrogen and potassium. 

Healthy soil produces healthy and adaptable plants – and it’s often trial and error. I’ve used depleted bagged soil that’s full of wood chips (which sucks up nitrogen) and had gardens fail, then add these amendments and see it bounce back. 

Water Retention

The last note is about water. You don’t want your garden beds to hold too much water, or to leech it. If there’s a water retention issue there are two methods for rectifying it: mulch on the top of beds or coconut coir added in. Peat moss used to be used for this, and is added to bagged soil often, but is a non-renewable resource so we avoid it. Coir has taken its place. You can buy blocks of coir to add to beds and that is very helpful for mixing into soil that is too sandy or lacks density.

To keep a garden is to be learning always. I recommend you just jump in and get started, learning as you go. A good gut instinct is better than a thousand pieces of advice. 

TAGS:compostorganic gardeningraised bed gardensoilsoil amendmentssoil healthworm castings
Share

You May Also Like

A Day in the Life: Breanne of Burch Acres

May 30, 2020

Tips For Gardening With Kids

July 1, 2021

Building a U-Shaped Raised Bed

July 20, 2021
Previous Post
My Natural Birth Story

Recent Posts

  • hands in soil

    Soil Amendments & Soil Health Basics

    February 22, 2023
  • My Natural Birth Story

    February 8, 2023
  • January Gardening 2023

    January 14, 2023
Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

Follow On Instagram

Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken 5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼 7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. Life is dang good. Celebrate it. #gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

Shall we try a photo dump?

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap.

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon.

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him.

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it.

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much.

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces!

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing.

Life is dang good. Celebrate it.

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump

13 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
My husband asked me: “so, what do want to do?”

My response: “garden and hang out with my kids.” 

And so, I figured that out. 

Ah, not quite so simple. But really I like to think about what time in my day makes me most happy and how can I make more of that? What do I want to show my kids matters? Better spend time doing that. What do I believe in? Better spend time in that zone too. Perhaps they all collide somehow? They usually do. 

I spent years really searching for my “calling” or purpose … I can say now that the hard part isn’t finding your thing - it’s being the steward of that gift and realizing how to use it. 

This year will be one for the books as I grow my business, our family, and this garden. I’m here for anyone who has questions about making your passion your work too. 

#mompreneur #gardeninglife #sahm #lovewhatyoudo #organicgardening
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

My husband asked me: “so, what do want to do?”

My response: “garden and hang out with my kids.”

And so, I figured that out.

Ah, not quite so simple. But really I like to think about what time in my day makes me most happy and how can I make more of that? What do I want to show my kids matters? Better spend time doing that. What do I believe in? Better spend time in that zone too. Perhaps they all collide somehow? They usually do.

I spent years really searching for my “calling” or purpose … I can say now that the hard part isn’t finding your thing – it’s being the steward of that gift and realizing how to use it.

This year will be one for the books as I grow my business, our family, and this garden. I’m here for anyone who has questions about making your passion your work too.

#mompreneur #gardeninglife #sahm #lovewhatyoudo #organicgardening

21 hours ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
And gardening isn’t cheaper 🥴💃🏻. 

It’s funny how things come around …
Raised on a hobby farm where designer jeans were Wranglers, but all I wanted was to dance in the San Francisco ballet and wear high heels. 

Then once I actually wore high heels for work and lived the city life, I longed for the country. 

I’m somewhere in between now which is just how it was supposed to be.
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

And gardening isn’t cheaper 🥴💃🏻.

It’s funny how things come around …
Raised on a hobby farm where designer jeans were Wranglers, but all I wanted was to dance in the San Francisco ballet and wear high heels.

Then once I actually wore high heels for work and lived the city life, I longed for the country.

I’m somewhere in between now which is just how it was supposed to be.

7 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Here’s the scoop! I literally had a dream about this and brought it to reality. I want magic in my kids everyday lives. It’s so so fun and they LOVE it. 

What we did is first buy a functional fairy door off Etsy. There are tons is styles and colors. 

Then build a full box without a bottom to attach to the inside of your raised bed. You have to use a jigsaw to cut the hole out, just making sure it fits with the little door. Then you waterproof the box with plastic stapled on all around. 

 E sure to leave room on top of the box for soil to cover it. Ours is 10” deep, wide, and tall (our beds are 18” tall). 

Let the magic unfold 🪄🧚🏼‍♀️
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

Here’s the scoop! I literally had a dream about this and brought it to reality. I want magic in my kids everyday lives. It’s so so fun and they LOVE it.

What we did is first buy a functional fairy door off Etsy. There are tons is styles and colors.

Then build a full box without a bottom to attach to the inside of your raised bed. You have to use a jigsaw to cut the hole out, just making sure it fits with the little door. Then you waterproof the box with plastic stapled on all around.

E sure to leave room on top of the box for soil to cover it. Ours is 10” deep, wide, and tall (our beds are 18” tall).

Let the magic unfold 🪄🧚🏼‍♀️

1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

@baileyvantassel

  • Contact
  • Newsletter Sign up

Copyright © 2023Site Powered by Pix & Hue.