Soil is a basic, necessary element among majority of the plant life found in our world. While the sun also provides energy for plants to absorb, it isn't the be all and end all of a plant's existence.
In fact, it is the soil that produces most of the nutrients while the sun's energy allows plants to chemically process those nutrients. In combination, the sun and soil condition provide the plants with a good growth environment. Good soil, in particular, will make plants thrive.
'Good soil condition' is not a general term when used in gardening. It is more of a set of specific properties contained in the soil that is very much suitable to certain, specific plants. Soil contains water, phosphorus and nitrogen as well as acidity and alkaline properties. These contents and properties vary in quantity. Depending on the variation, a certain plant will grow at optimum levels.
For instance, the lavender herb plant is very well suited to dry soil with higher than normal levels of alkaline content. Likewise, sage is also partial to dry soil and may suffer root rot if the soil is kept wet. If you have lavender and sage in your garden, you can keep the soil relatively dry by making sure to enhance the drainage properties of your soil.
Soil may be categorized as either being sandy or clay-like. Mixtures of these two kinds of soil will produce the desired drainage quality of the soil. The clay particles in the soil will absorb water; thus, keeping your soil moist. Sandy soil is mostly composed of silicates that make for more space between particles for water and air to flow through.
Many gardens have plants that have various and conflicting requirements. Sage will want dry soil while peppermint will prefer moist soil. The application of compost to the soil can achieve a balance where both plants can easily grow and survive.
Although soil is a blessing and source of life for plants in many ways, it can also prove to be a bane. Parasites and insects usually emerge from the soil and destroy the foliage of your plants. Placing a few herbs here and there will help you repel some pests. A rose garden is particularly vulnerable to aphids. The fragrance of the rose is a very attractive stimulant to these pests. Herb plants such as cilantro, chives, basil and mint will help repel the aphids. Basil can also be helpful for keeping tomato hornworms away from your tomatoes.
As nice as this may seem, herbs are still plants. They themselves will attract pests and parasites on their own. Yarrow and dill are favorite food stations of wasps. They don't eat the plant itself; rather, they eat the eggs of beetles that are stuck to the plants. Dill will also attract more tomato hornworms than the tomato plant itself. Using dill to keep your tomatoes pest free should be a good idea if not for the wasps.
This is where a little deductive reasoning can help. Dill is an egg depository of beetles which, in turn, attract the wasps. With dill, your tomatoes are safe. What you need is to specifically target the wasps. Use a pesticide that will effectively drive them away. Don't forget about the beetles also. If they're left alone, the beetles will eat away at the dill plant. Apply the pesticides moderately.
Sometimes, pesticides stick to the plants and accumulate over time. Since herb plants are normally used for cooking, you will want to keep them free of poison agents so they can be safe for cooking.
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