Improve the soil in your garden naturally—no chemicals needed!
A green and lush garden is a dream many gardeners have, and for this many of them try to get a boost by using fertilizers. Yes, they work; you’ll have a more beautiful and healthy garden afterward, but what if we tell you that there are some plants out there that have nitrogen-fixing properties?
These plants are able to improve the soil in your garden naturally, and they have this ability because their roots have a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobia bacteria. This bacteria is capable of converting the nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form that is digestible for plants and giving them the chance to get more nitrogen.
Once these nitrogen-rich plants decay, they leave the nutrient in the ground, and your other plants will be able to take advantage of it. In this way, they will grow much stronger and healthier.
So, what are these plants? Ready to find out? Start to improve the soil in your garden NOW!
1. Lentils
Lentils have been cultivated for thousands of years, and they are a staple food around the world. They are packed with fiber and nutrients and are part of the legume family. Besides this, they are amazing nitrogen fixers.
Just like their cousins, the peas get most of their nitrogen through fixation—more exactly 80% of it! So, what you can do to improve the soil in your garden is to plant them in early spring, and they will be ready for harvest in the fall. After this full season, they will enrich the soil with nitrogen.
You can plant lentils almost anywhere with one condition: the soil needs to drain well. Also, they need a lot of sunlight. Water them once a week, and during the scorching days of the summer, you can water them more than that.
But maybe the most important thing you have to do is to manually inoculate the seeds with rhizobia before planting. Doing this will be the safest way to know your lentils will enrich the soil with nitrogen. The process is extremely simple; you just have to spray the seeds with the inoculate before planting, and they are good to go.
2. Clover
A lot of gardeners panic and decide to get rid of it once they see some clover in their gardens. But please stop doing that because these little guys are on your side. They are amazing nitrogen fixers, and you can use them to improve the soil. Some of the best species to know about that you can use for crop rotation are crimson clover, white clover, and red clover.
Even if most of us consider them weeds, this doesn’t mean clovers have no use in our gardens. But you should try to grow clover that is not invasive in your area. One acre of clover can fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen.
If you want to plant crimson clover, keep in mind that it is grown as a winter annual in zones 6–9 and as a summer annual in zones 3–4. Most clover species want well-drained soil and full access to sunlight. Tough, white clovers prefer a little bit of partial shade from time to time. The watering needs are moderate, and some even consider them drought-tolerant.
3. Chickpeas
Also known as garbanzo beans, they are a popular food around the world. People love them so much because they have a high protein content, and they are the meal of choice for many vegans and vegetarians. Aquafaba made from chickpea juice is even used as an egg replacement in vegan cooking.
But no matter what you prefer to eat, one thing is for sure: chickpeas are perfect if you plan to improve the soil in your garden because they have tons of nitrogen. Make some space for them in your garden, and your beloved plants and flowers will thank you.
Since they have a quite long growing season, the best move is to plant them as soon as the winter is gone. When the last frost has passed, get ready to plant your chickpeas. Make sure you find them a spot with full sunlight, as they don’t tolerate shade, and this makes them less prosperous. Also, they need soil that drains well.
4. Peas
This is a great crop that will improve the soil and give you an edible harvest. What more can you want? If you have a vegetable garden, this plant is ideal for rotations, and what is even more important is that any gardener can grow peas because they thrive in zones with a hardiness range of 2–11.
This is a great choice to make the soil better for future crops because it has lots of nitrogen. Peas can survive in partial shade and grow, but if you want them to flower and produce fruits, be sure you plant them in a sunny place where they also have a moist solid that can drain well.
You have two varieties to choose from: the bush ones and the vine ones. Both are good, so you can pick whatever you want. If you have a larger area, maybe you should go with the bush variety and make sure you scatter them around.
A great trick is to grow peas in various combinations, and in this way, you’ll boost nitrogen production. Peas and oats are a powerful combination because, besides all the nitrogen, you also have the oats, which have weed-suppression properties. In the end, you will have more organic matter in the soil, and this means better soil for future plants.
5. Alfalfa
If you have livestock, then alfalfa is a good idea because this is a staple in the livestock feeding industry. Its spores are edible, and this means you can also eat them in soups, salads, or sandwiches as they are packed with nutrients.
The best use for alfalfa is to be a cover crop. This means it is efficient for large areas. One acre of alfalfa can efficiently fix up to 300 pounds of nitrogen. So, if you have a huge garden and plan to improve the soil, this plant should be your first choice.
Well-draining soil and full sunlight are the secrets that will help your alfalfa grow three feet tall. Also, remember that it struggles in acidic soil, so this is a big no-no. Another advantage is that its purple flowers attract pollinators, which is amazing for the whole garden.
Alfalfa loves cooler temperatures, and this makes it a spring or fall crop. During the summer when the temperatures are hot, make sure to water it consistently but at the same time avoid overwatering. If it has been raining, your alfalfa plants probably have enough water, so let them be. They hate sitting in the water.
If you have problems with your houseplants and you can’t understand why they are unhappy you should know that there are a dozen reasons for this and most of them have a simple solution. Curious to find out more? Read this article and learn how to better take care of your houseplants: Houseplant Health Issues: 6 Simple Reasons Your Plants Are Dying
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