02/09/2026
🌱 Gardening 101: Understanding Your Soil & Planting Right
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as a hobby or for food. Whether you are planting flowers, vegetables, fruits, or shrubs in your backyard, in pots, or in a community space, success starts with knowing the basics of soil and step-by-step planting.
Types of Soil
* Clay Soil: Rich in nutrients but slow to drain. Can be dense.
* Silty Soil: Very fine particles, smooth, fertile, and good at retaining moisture.
* Loamy Soil: The ideal garden soil. Excellent mix of sand, silt, and clay. Drains well and is rich in nutrients.
* Sandy Soil: Large particles, gritty. Drains rapidly but doesn't hold nutrients well.
* Peaty Soil: High in organic matter, dark, and holds water like a sponge. Often acidic.
* Chalky Soil: Stony, quick-draining, and alkaline. Can limit some nutrient uptake.
Steps in Planting
* Analyze Your Site: Choose a location with appropriate sunlight and drainage.
* Prepare the Soil: Loosen the earth, remove weeds, and mix in compost.
* Position Your Plant: Gently remove the seedling and place it in the prepared hole.
* Backfill and Firm: Fill the hole with soil and press gently to eliminate air pockets.
* Water Deeply: Provide a slow, deep watering to settle the soil.
* Apply Mulch: Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Infographic created by Breeze Aveane D. Angeles (YES-O Member/P.I.O, Grade 10 - Einstein)
