At Martin Garden Center, we understand the importance of healthy soil for successful gardening. We believe that the foundation of a thriving garden starts with quality soil. That’s why we offer a wide selection of nutrient-rich soils and soil amendments that promote optimal plant growth and root development. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to guide you on the best soil and fertilizer for your gardening needs.
We believe that soil and fertilizer go hand in hand. Even the best soils can only provide meet plants’ nutrient needs for 3 months. Consequently, for continued growth and vigor, supplemental fertilizer is a necessity. See our fertilizer page for more information on fertilizers at Martin Garden Center.
Understanding Soil Composition
Soil is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic materials that provide the foundation for plant growth. Organic matter, such as decaying residues, contributes to soil fertility and structure and provide the 3 essential primary nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) collectively known as NPK. These three primary nutrients provide a habitat for beneficial microorganisms. Intermediate or secondary nutrients such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) also are necessary but in lesser amounts. Trace nutrients include iron (Fe), boron (B), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) and chlorine (Cl). An absence of any one nutrient or lessened primary nutrients PKN can stunt plant development limit, causing lessened yield, growth and vigor.
Water and air are also essential components of soil, occupying pore spaces between soil particles. Adequate water and air circulation within the soil are vital for root respiration and nutrient uptake by plants. Understanding soil composition is essential for gardeners, as it directly influences plant growth and health. Different soil types have varying compositions, which can impact drainage, fertility, and overall soil quality.
Soil Types and Characteristics
There are several main types of soil, each with its own unique characteristics and properties.
- Sandy soil is composed of larger particles and tends to drain quickly, making it well-suited for drought-tolerant plants. Sandy soil is known for its low nutrient retention due to its coarse texture, which can result in leaching of nutrients during heavy rainfall or irrigation.
- Loamy soil is a balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay, offering good drainage and moisture retention, making it ideal for a wide range of plants, from vegetables and flowers to trees and shrubs. The nutrient-rich composition of loamy soil supports healthy root development and encourages robust plant growth throughout the growing season.
- Clay soil has smaller particles and holds water well but can become compacted and poorly drained. However, its tendency to become compacted can pose challenges for root growth and soil aeration. Compacted clay soil may also experience poor drainage, leading to waterlogged conditions that can suffocate plant roots.
- Silty soil is less prevalent compared to sandy, clay, and loamy soils. It’s often found in floodplains and areas with slow-moving water, offering good fertility and moisture retention. Silty soil is suitable for agriculture and supporting a variety of plant species.
Understanding the characteristics of different soil types is essential for gardeners to choose the right plants and gardening practices. Soil pH levels also vary depending on the soil type, affecting nutrient availability to plants. Acidic soils (pH below 7) may require amendments to raise pH levels, while alkaline soils (pH above 7) may need acidifying agents to lower pH levels for optimal plant growth.
For optimal plant growth, ideally soils should have 50% porosity – half water and half air – and 50% solids (5% organics and 45% minerals), and an acidic pH below 7.
Our Soils in the Upstate
In the Upstate, our soils are primarily Piedmont Ultisols, characterized by an abundance of red clay, 82% minerals, 2% organics, & 16% pore space on average, with an acidic pH (<5.0 su-6.0 su). The iron content makes it red. It has some naturally occurring Potassium and Magnesium, but NO Calcium.
You cannot plant a productive garden in local clay soil without amendments, but YOU CAN create a great garden soil by mixing clay with amendments, organics particularly. Why is clay soil great? (1) Water retention, (2) Clay is sticky and has a negative charge so minerals like Mg, Ca, K will attach to the clay, thus keeping nutrients on hand for the plant.
Piedmont Ultisols soil is compact and has 16% pore space … ideal is 50%. Of course, you must break up the soil to achieve the ideal pore space. Piedmont Ultisols soil has 2% organics and ideal is 6%. So, work in the compost to help increase the % organic matter and pore space. For example, this year’s mulch is next year’s compost.
If you build it, they will come … meaning that if you build your Piedmont Ultisols compact clay soil by incorporating organics and pore space, the earthworms and the microorganisms and the enzymes will come. But, it will take time. We estimate about 5 years may be necessary to change our lovely red clay Piedmont Ultisols into black gold.
Improving Soil Health
Improving our Piedmont Ultisols is essential for promoting robust plant growth and overall garden productivity. There are three main suggestions to improve our local clay soil annually or as you plant.
First, adding organic matter, such as soil conditioner, mushroom compost, cow and chicken manure, and worm castings, helps improve soil structure (pore space), fertility (NPK), and moisture retention. Organic matter also provides a food source for beneficial soil organisms, enhancing soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling.
Second, aerating compacted clay soil periodically through tilling or mechanical aeration improves air and water circulation, reducing soil compaction and improving root growth.
Third, you must add Calcium. Our Piedmont Ultisols are devoid of calcium, which is a crucial nutrient that is extremely important in the formation of the plant cell walls including fruits and vegetables, and the overall vigor of your plants.
Our Selection Of Soils
Martin Garden Center carries the following brands of garden soils:
Coast of Maine Soils
Cost Of Maine is renowned for their exceptional quality and commitment to sustainable gardening practices. Crafted with a blend of carefully sourced organic materials, these soils provide optimal nutrition and moisture retention for plants. With a focus on environmental stewardship, Coast of Maine utilizes natural, locally sourced ingredients to create soils that promote healthy root growth, enhance soil structure, and support overall plant vitality.
One of the key ingredients to all Coast of Maine soils is lobster and crab shell meal, which is rich in Calcium, a nutrient much needed in our local Piedmont Ultisols. Additionally, many of their soils include worm castings and mycorrhizae fungi which are top of the line ingredients and recommended fertilizer supplements at Martin Garden Center. The list of Coast of Maine soils include:
- Coast of Maine Bar Harbor Blend Organic & Natural Potting Soil (16 qt & 1 cuft, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Castine Blend Organic & Natural Raised Bed Mix (2 cuft, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Quoddy Blend Lobster Compost (1 cuft, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Mount Desert Island Blend Organic Cactus & Succulent Mix (8 qt OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Organic & Natural Planting Soil for ACID-LOVING PLANTS (1.5 cuft, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Organic & Natural Planting Soil for ROSES & FLOWERS (20 qt)
- Coast of Maine Organic & Natural Planting Soil for TOMATOES & VEGETABLES (20 qt)
- Coast of Maine Sprout Island Organic & Natural Seed Starter (16 qt, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Stonington Blend Organic & Natural Grower’s Mix (1.5 cuft, OMRI)
- Coast of Maine Cape Neddick Indoor Houseplant Mix (16 qt)
Fafard Professional Potting Mix (1 cuft & 2 cuft)
This potting mix is specially formulated with high-quality ingredients, including processed bark, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, compost
dolomite lime (containing slow-release calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate), RESiLIENCE® (a silicone-based enhancer used in all Fafard potting mixes) and a wetting agent. Their soils provide excellent drainage and aeration, which supports healthy root development, promotes vigorous plant growth, and ensures optimal moisture retention, making it an ideal choice for container gardening and for garden beds.
Where we can obtain a better price, we also may substitute Fafard® Natural & Organic Potting Mix, which is OMRI listed and comes in a brown bag, for the Professional Potting Mix. Finally, we have also substituted the Fafard® Ultra Container Mix with Extended Feed with 6 months of slow-release plant food and comes in a red bag. Again, much depends on the prices available at market.
Sungro Grower’s Mix (2.8 Cuft)
This is a bark-based Grower’s Mix and is intended to be supplemented with fertilizers and other additives for the most appropriate combination for your situation. The mix combines premium Canadian sphagnum peat moss, composted bark, perlite, dolomite lime (again, slow-release calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate), a wetting agent and RESiLIENCE® (the aforementioned silicon-based enhancer). At 2.8 cubic feet, it is the most economical of our soils and it is also the soil we use at Martin Garden Center (in 60 cuft bulk containers) when growing 40,000-50,000 annuals and perennials each year.
Soil Amendments
Martin Garden Center also carries numerous soil amendments to help amend and enhance your native soil. These amendments include:
- Nature’s Choice Premium Soil Conditioner (1.5 cuft) – Composed of aged pine bark fines, Nature’s Choice premium soil conditioner provides organic materials that are added to the soil to improve our native clay’s properties, such as drainage and aeration, resulting in healthier and more productive plants.
- Black Kow Mushroom Compost (40 lbs) – Use in lieu of or in addition to soil conditioner for planting shrubs that enjoy a more humic environment (e.g., azalea, boxwood, pieris, rhododendron, swamp hibiscus). Also, the perfect addition to your flower beds and vegetable garden to add organic nutrients in the spring & fall.
- Black Kow Cow Manure (25 lbs) – A premium compost made from aged and composted cow manure. It is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that helps improve soil structure, fertility, and overall plant health by proving essential organic matter, beneficial microorganisms, and a balanced blend of macro and micronutrients. Black Kow Cow Manure is a trusted choice for gardeners seeking to enrich their soil and cultivate thriving plants naturally.
- Frey Premium Topsoil (1 cuft) – Gardeners often use topsoil to amend and improve their existing soil, create new garden beds, or enhance the fertility of their landscape. Frey Premium Topsoil consists of natural composts, aged pine bark fines and sphagnum peat moss. It is the best topsoil we have found for supporting plant growth as it provides essential nutrients, water-holding capacity, and a suitable medium for roots to penetrate and establish.
- Espoma Soil Perfector (20 lbs) – A premium soil amendment that offers a range of benefits for gardeners. Made from expanded shale, it improves soil structure by enhancing drainage and aeration. It will never decay. Thus, it is very helpful in areas with compact clay and standing water due to poor drainage. By building up the soil with Espoma Soil perfector, a healthier root system can develop resulting in better overall plant growth.
Choosing The Right Soil Products
Our soil blends are carefully formulated to provide optimal growing conditions for a wide variety of plants, whether you’re gardening in containers, raised beds, or landscaping projects. Whatever your gardening needs, our premium soil varieties are designed to deliver exceptional results and make your gardening experience enjoyable and rewarding.
- For container gardening, our lightweight potting mixes offer excellent drainage and aeration, ensuring healthy root development and vibrant plant growth.
- If you’re planning a raised bed garden, our nutrient-rich garden soil blends provide the perfect top layer for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
- For landscaping projects, our Frey Premium Topsoil is ideal for the base layer of new garden beds, repairing lawn areas, and enhancing the overall health and vitality of your landscape.
- For enhancing soil health and for new plantings, Nature’s Choice Premium Soil Conditioner helps loosen clay and aid in aeration and drainage, while providing slow degrading organics for the future
- For existing beds, Black Kow Mushroom Compost and Black Kow Cow Manure help invigorate the bed and provide organics for the growing season.
Maintaining Soil Health
Regular watering is essential to ensure that your plants receive an adequate supply of moisture, especially during hot, dry periods. Mulching your garden beds helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and adds organic matter to the soil as it breaks down. Additionally, practicing proper weed control prevents weeds from competing with your plants for nutrients and water.
Martin Garden Center highly recommends mulching immediately after planting. Keep in mind, any exposed soil that is not mulched, will, within 30 days, have weeds growing. So, mulch those beds people. Unfortunately, due to space limitations at Martin Garden Center, we do not offer bagged mulch for sale. Local box stores will have a variety of options from pine straw to pine nuggets to hardwood mulch of various colors. Beware those dyed with salts that will later leach the salts into your soil.
To prevent soil erosion and compaction, avoid walking on wet soil and use ground cover plants or retaining walls in sloped areas. Finally, periodic soil testing helps you monitor soil nutrient levels and pH, allowing you to make informed decisions about soil amendments and fertilization to prevent nutrient depletion and maintain soil fertility.
A cautionary tale … the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) offers soil analysis for a fee and provides you with detailed analysis of the exact NPK fertilizer mixture to have the optimum soil. Unfortunately, their analysis may point to NPK of 12:18:7 or 8:6:27 or another crazy combination for the appropriate fertilizer. YOU WILL NEVER find bizarre analytic percentages in any fertilizers commercially sold. Instead, you will mostly find 10:10:10 or 12:12:12 or even 20:20:20. There are some wackadoodle fertilizers with 5:20:5 and 5:10:27. Be content with finding a base fertilizer and then adding the component that may be needed because YOU WILL NEVER find the prescriptive percentages.
Troubleshooting Soil Issues
Even with proper soil preparation and maintenance, gardeners may encounter common soil problems that can affect plant growth and health. Poor drainage is a frequent issue in heavy clay soils or areas with compacted soil.
Nutrient deficiencies can manifest as yellowing leaves or stunted growth, indicating a need for soil amendments like organic fertilizers or micronutrient supplements. Soil pH imbalances can also impact nutrient availability to plants; adjusting soil pH with lime or soil acidifier can help correct these issues. By identifying and addressing soil problems promptly, gardeners can ensure healthy plant growth and enjoy a thriving garden throughout the growing season.