Soil Health
An Integrated Approach to Soil Health Management
Mickiewicz Arbor Experts, LLC
helps homeowners and business owners in Middlesex County, New Jersey
to improve the soil
on their lands. Call us at (732) 814-2466
for professional soil health management.
Why Do We Need It?
All living organisms including trees and shrubs rely on a steady supply of nutrients for survival. In plants, roots take up nutrients from the soil to carry out all of its physiological processes. These activities include growth, respiration, photosynthesis, reproduction, defenses against disease and insects, etc. Uptake of soil nutrients is absolutely essential.
These sources exist naturally in a forest environment. When plants grow in a forest habitat the soil provides all of these necessary nutrients. When plant parts fall they are decomposed by microscopic animals; fungus and bacteria. The action of these microbes makes available, nutrients to take up through their roots. In fact, this process works so well individual plants release substances to attract specific micro-organisms around their roots. The result is an endless supply of nutrients and protection from soil pathogens. These microbes also contribute to the building of soil structure which is extremely important in our compacted urban soils.
While common in natural settings this soil food web is usually operating at a very low level or completely absent on our properties, for a number of different reasons. Urban soils are usually very disturbed and compacted, then we surround our trees and shrubs with turf. When leaves or plant parts fall we immediately take them away. In addition, we irrigate using chlorinated water and over apply synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides to our lawns, which affect the soils our trees and plants are growing in. The system is either incomplete or entirely broken. We then wonder why are plants on our properties are barely surviving instead of thriving.
Our Solution
We start recreating the methods which occur naturally. We look at nature and mimic the natural processes which have sustained trees and shrubs for millions of years without the use of synthetic chemicals.
The Soil Program
A combination of beneficial microbes and the necessary bio-stimulants (food for the microbes) are mixed and injected into the root zone using a deep-root fertilizing system . Included in these materials are kelp, humic acid, and soil conditioners including yucca extract and other Bio-based organic soil amendments.
The Result
We biologically activate the soil restoring soil fertility naturally, we replace chemical sources of nitrogen and phosphorus and improve soil structure. Plant growth is stimulated and protection is provided from drought and some soil-borne diseases. The health of the soil is improved therefore improving plant and tree health.