Before you stop to smell the roses, give your soil a sniff. Healthy soil, enhanced with compost, makes a beautiful spring garden and helps keep Texas' water clean, too.

"If a garden is failing, some people will pour more water on it or put chemicals on it," said Elizabeth Drozda-Freeman, LCRA water outreach coordinator and conservation landscape specialist. "This can waste water, and if chemicals are placed in the soil, those chemicals wash into our drains and water sources."

Compost is a natural alternative to chemical soil additives. It's a combination of leaves, shredded paper, grass clippings, orange peels and other kitchen waste — and even manure — that have been left to "cure" for a period of time. When mixed with soil, it improves the texture and adds nutrients that help plants thrive.

Many soil experts favor organic compost over chemical soil treatments because compost's natural makeup is less toxic and its continuous decomposition provides a slow release of nutrients to the soil, which lessens the potential for water pollution, according to Skip Richter, horticulturist for Travis County with Texas Cooperative Extension.

There also is less need for watering when compost changes the texture of the soil from a problematic sandy or clay-like substance to a loam, which better retains water and nutrients.

Some new housing developments need soil supplements
Some of Texas' least fertile soil is at some new housing developments, where several layers of soil have been removed as part of the leveling process and mostly rock remains. This kind of thin, rock shelf is common in the western Hill Country. Sandy soil, found in East Texas, allows too much water to wash through it, and clay-like soil, found in the Austin and Dallas areas, creates water runoff, which can carry pollutants into neighboring waterways.

Compost mixed with the clay soil creates pockets for air and water to reach the plants' roots, and when mixed with sand, it increases density to retain water and nutrients.

Deeper layers of soil, rich in nutrients, are necessary for even native Texas plants to thrive, according to Don Legacy, president of the WaterWise Council of Texas and director of the Texas Landscape and Nursery Association. "If your soil hasn't been treated before, then it needs to be," he said.

Don't try growing your own compost at home
Legacy, who also owns J-V Dirt + Loam in Austin, recommends mixing one inch of compost into three inches of soil to create a four-inch layer of improved soil. Top it off with mulch to prevent weeds and retain moisture.

Because of the time it takes to mix and cure compost to cover a garden, Richter doesn't recommend creating your own batch at home. "It's a lot faster to go ahead and purchase it (because) the people selling you compost have large equipment and can make large quantities," he said. "In the back yard, it doesn't make enough to serve anyone with a garden."

He suggests purchasing "landscaper's mix" of various brands that offer a variety of soil and compost blends. Lowe's, Home Depot or a local lawn and garden store offer compost at prices ranging from 93 cents a bag for Garden Plus brand (made by LETCO Group in Dallas) to $5.67 a bag for Lady Bug brand (made by The Natural Gardener in Austin).

Soil texture is fairly easy to tell by looking at it, but its nutrients are more difficult to determine. To eliminate the nutrient-content guesswork, have your soil tested. Testing kits and instructions are available through your local Texas County Extension office. You ship your soil to be tested at Texas A&M University's Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory; cost for a routine analysis is $10.

"Be willing to spend a dollar on your soil before you spend a dollar on your plant," Richter said. "If you put a little bit of investment into the soil first, you'll have a beautiful garden faster."

Mary Morales is a writer specializing in water issues at LCRA. Write her at info@lcra.org.

	TEXAS SOIL 101 Soil that is sandy or acidic has large particles, feels gritty and won't form a ball in your hand. Although it allows for air to reach plant roots, soil like this lacks nutrients and struggles to retain water. Dense, clay-like soil can be squeezed through your fingers. Its particles are too fine to allow air and water to flow freely to plant roots, and it retains too much water. Mix in compost to loosen the soil for better water drainage. If you have no soil or your soil is only a few inches deep, it's possible that your home was built on a rocky shelf. The soil most likely is sterile, and you will need some additional layers of dirt and additives for healthy lawn and plant growth. The best soil is a combination of sandy, clay-like, and silt (a medium-size grain) particles. It channels air and water to the plant roots and retains water as needed. You can improve both the texture and nutrients of your soil by mixing organic compost into it. If you're unsure about the condition of your soil, call your county extension agent to have it tested. This will set a baseline for its status and help you determine the amount and type of nutrients to add. More sources: Grown Green Program, City of Austin www.growgreen.org Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board www.tsswcb.state.tx.us WaterWise Council of Texas www.waterwisetexas.org Texas County Extension Offices county-tx.tamu.edu Texas A&M University Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory soiltesting.tamu.edu US Composting Council www.compostingcouncil.org

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