2022年11月08日 VOA慢速英语：秋天是为新植物准备花园土壤的最佳时间

Autumn is a good time to plan for new flowers, groundcovers, or plants for next year's growing season.
秋天是为明年的生长季节计划新花、地被植物或植物的好时机。
 
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础。在植物到位之前改善土壤更容易，所以现在是时候这样做了。
 
First, remove unwanted plants from the area.
首先，从该地区清除不需要的植物。
 
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.
接下来，测试土壤的酸性或碱性，也称为pH测试。在某些国家/地区，测试价格合理且易于找到。美国的一些大学设有农业办公室，为家庭园丁提供低成本的测试服务。
 
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.
每种植物在特定的pH 值下都会表现最好。如果读数超出植物的目标水平，无论是从土壤还是肥料中，它都无法充分吸收养分。因此，了解它们的 pH 要求，并在必要时为植物准备土壤。
 
Agriculture limestone will raise pH, and products like aluminum sulfate or sulfur will lower it.
农业石灰石会提高 pH 值，而硫酸铝或硫磺等产品会降低它。
 
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.
剩下的落叶也适合花园。将其中一些放在花园床和边界上。如果可能的话，把它们分成小块。然后将 7 到 10 厘米的堆肥或食物和蔬菜废料撒在叶子上 - 如果没有叶子，则直接撒在土壤上。堆肥将喂养有益的细菌和其他生物，将优质营养物质释放到地下以喂养植物。
 
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.
虽然有些人可能会说将堆肥和树叶等改良剂混合到土壤中，但不要这样做。这样做可能会破坏土壤结构，破坏真菌等重要生物的根系，杀死蚯蚓等有益昆虫，并将不需要的植物种子带到地表。
 
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.
请记住，最肥沃的土壤是在森林地面上发现的，没有人在挖掘它。然而，纠正水流问题将是挖掘土壤的一个很好的理由。但在大多数情况下，最好顺应自然，直接在地球上进行修正。在接下来的几个月里，他们将继续努力。
 
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 厘米的小木块或覆盖物，以防止不需要的植物生长，并在冬季调节土壤温度和湿度。
 
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.
如果植物已经在床上生长，则延迟添加覆盖物，直到结霜后，并将堆肥和覆盖物保持在距离植物从地面生长的地方几厘米的地方。硬霜是指气温低于负两摄氏度至少四个小时。
 
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，改良剂的收益将在根部获得，土壤将变软，更容易种植。将覆盖物推开并放置植物。
 
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.
新花园将与已创造的丰富有机环境相得益彰。而花园将以强劲的生长、美丽的花朵和多产的蔬菜来展示这种辛勤的工作。他们将更健康，更好地抵御有害生物和疾病。