How to Use Vermiculite for the Garden

Good soil preparation is at the heart of every successful garden. Even what gardeners consider "good" soil can take a bit of compost or manure to add nutrients to the soil. Some soils, such as those composed of sand, require more help. If a soil is overly sandy, vermiculite, an inorganic soil amendment, can be added to help it retain water. Don't be skimpy with the vermiculite because, according to the experts at Oregon State University, you must add enough of it to equal one-third of the volume of the soil for it to do your soil good.

Things You'll Need

• Vermiculite
• Rototiller, spade or shovel
• Rake

Instructions

1. Pull all weeds in the gardening area. Remove any rocks or other debris.

2. Loosen the soil in the garden. Depending upon the size of the garden you can use a rototiller, shovel or a sharp spade. You need to dig down at least 1 foot deep.

3. Pour a 4-inch layer of vermiculite on the bed and use a gardening fork to mix it into the top 1 foot of soil.

4. Rake the bed until it is level and smooth.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use vermiculite to amend clay soil. Clay soil does not require an amendment that holds water.

References

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Improving Garden Soil
• Colorado State University Extension; Choosing a Soil Amendment; J.G. Davis, et al.; June 2000