2022年11月08日 VOA慢速英語：秋天是為新植物準備花園土壤的最佳時間

Autumn is a good time to plan for new flowers, groundcovers, or plants for next year's growing season.
秋天是為明年的生長季節(jié)計劃新花、地被植物或植物的好時機。
 
The path to success starts with a good base. It is easier to improve soil before plants are in place, so the time to do so is now.
成功之路始于良好的基礎(chǔ)。在植物到位之前改善土壤更容易，所以現(xiàn)在是時候這樣做了。
 
First, remove unwanted plants from the area.
首先，從該地區(qū)清除不需要的植物。
 
Next, test to see how acidic or basic the soil is, also called a pH test. In some countries, the tests are reasonably priced and easy to find. Some universities in the United States have agricultural offices offering low-cost testing services to home gardeners.
接下來，測試土壤的酸性或堿性，也稱為pH測試。在某些國家/地區(qū)，測試價格合理且易于找到。美國的一些大學設(shè)有農(nóng)業(yè)辦公室，為家庭園丁提供低成本的測試服務。
 
Each kind of plant will do best in specific pH levels. If the reading is outside the target levels for a plant, it will not be able to take in nutrients to its best abilities, whether from soil or fertilizer. So, learn their pH requirements, and prepare the soil if necessary for the plants.
每種植物在特定的pH 值下都會表現(xiàn)最好。如果讀數(shù)超出植物的目標水平，無論是從土壤還是肥料中，它都無法充分吸收養(yǎng)分。因此，了解它們的 pH 要求，并在必要時為植物準備土壤。
 
Agriculture limestone will raise pH, and products like aluminum sulfate or sulfur will lower it.
農(nóng)業(yè)石灰石會提高 pH 值，而硫酸鋁或硫磺等產(chǎn)品會降低它。
 
Leftover fallen autumn leaves are also good for gardens. Keep some of them on garden beds and borders. If possible, break them into small pieces. Then spread 7 to 10 centimeters of compost, or food and vegetable waste, over the leaves - or directly on the soil if there are no leaves. The compost will feed helpful bacteria and other organisms, releasing high-quality nutrients into the ground to feed the plants.
剩下的落葉也適合花園。將其中一些放在花園床和邊界上。如果可能的話，把它們分成小塊。然后將 7 到 10 厘米的堆肥或食物和蔬菜廢料撒在葉子上 - 如果沒有葉子，則直接撒在土壤上。堆肥將喂養(yǎng)有益的細菌和其他生物，將優(yōu)質(zhì)營養(yǎng)物質(zhì)釋放到地下以喂養(yǎng)植物。
 
While some might say to mix amendments, like compost and leaves, into the soil, do not do so. Doing so could damage soil structure, break up roots from important organisms like fungi, kill helpful insects like earthworms, and bring unwanted plant seeds to the surface.
雖然有些人可能會說將堆肥和樹葉等改良劑混合到土壤中，但不要這樣做。這樣做可能會破壞土壤結(jié)構(gòu)，破壞真菌等重要生物的根系，殺死蚯蚓等有益昆蟲，并將不需要的植物種子帶到地表。
 
Remember, the richest soil is found on the forest floor, and nobody has been digging that up. However, correcting a water flow problem would be a good reason to dig through the soil. But in most cases, it is best to follow nature and place amendments directly on the earth. They will work their way down over the next few months.
請記住，最肥沃的土壤是在森林地面上發(fā)現(xiàn)的，沒有人在挖掘它。然而，糾正水流問題將是挖掘土壤的一個很好的理由。但在大多數(shù)情況下，最好順應自然，直接在地球上進行修正。在接下來的幾個月里，他們將繼續(xù)努力。
 
Place 5 to 8 centimeters of small pieces of wood, or mulch, over the compost to keep unwanted plants from growing and moderate soil temperature and wetness over the winter.
在堆肥上放置 5 到 8 厘米的小木塊或覆蓋物，以防止不需要的植物生長，并在冬季調(diào)節(jié)土壤溫度和濕度。
 
If plants are already growing in the bed, delay adding mulch until after a hard frost, and keep both compost and mulch a few centimeters from where plants are growing from the ground. A hard frost is when air temperatures have reached below negative two degrees Celsius for at least four hours.
如果植物已經(jīng)在床上生長，則延遲添加覆蓋物，直到結(jié)霜后，并將堆肥和覆蓋物保持在距離植物從地面生長的地方幾厘米的地方。硬霜是指氣溫低于負兩攝氏度至少四個小時。
 
By spring, the gains of the amendments will be available at root level, and the soil will have softened for easier planting. Push the mulch away and place your plants.
到春天，改良劑的收益將在根部獲得，土壤將變軟，更容易種植。將覆蓋物推開并放置植物。
 
The new garden will do well with the rich, organic environment that has been created. And the garden will show this hard work with strong growth, beautiful flowers, and productive vegetables. And they will be healthier and better to withstand unwanted organisms and diseases.
新花園將與已創(chuàng)造的豐富有機環(huán)境相得益彰。而花園將以強勁的生長、美麗的花朵和多產(chǎn)的蔬菜來展示這種辛勤的工作。他們將更健康，更好地抵御有害生物和疾病。