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Feb 20, 2020 · The Basics to Healthy Garden Soil. Healthy productive plants start with healthy garden soil. The soil feeds the plants so it must be fertile to support plant life. Soil must also be loose to allow for root growth, drainage, and air circulation. Healthy soil will be rich in nutrients, minerals, and organic matter.
- Garden Organically. First, do no harm. This phrase may more commonly be used in the field of bioethics. But it is equally applicable in your garden. Before you even begin to consider how you can improve the soil in your garden, you need to make sure you are not damaging the soil you have.
- Implement a ‘No Dig’/ ‘No Till’ Gardening Approach. Every time we dig or till the soil, we damage the complex ecosystem below. Traditional gardening and farming involves disturbing the soil on a rather frequent basis.
- Avoid Leaving Areas of Bare Soil. When soil is left bare, it is more likely to become degraded over time. Bare soil should therefore be avoided whenever possible when you are trying to improve the soil in your garden.
- Keep Beds Traffic Free to Reduce Compaction. In larger growing systems, minimising the amount of heavy machinery or equipment that passes over the soil will help make sure it remains aerated.
- Feed it an Organic Diet. Spring brings a flurry of underground activity that we can’t see. Billions of soil organisms stretch and yawn, exploding into existence.
- Till With Worms. Instead of breaking out the rototiller, or breaking my back double digging, I like to let the worms do my tilling for me by using sheet mulching techniques.
- Grow Your Own Soil. Green manures and cover crops—such as buckwheat and phacelia in the summertime and vetch, daikon, and clovers in the fall—are my favorite way to improve soils.
- Test for Success. Soil tests are an indispensable garden tool. I always recommend taking one when starting a new garden, or when garden health declines.
- Use homemade compost. Well-rotted homemade compost is one of the best soil conditioners, adding nutrients and beneficial microbes, opening up heavy clay and improving the retention of moisture and nutrients in thin, sandy soil.
- Spread farmyard manure. Farmyard manure is another excellent way to improve garden soil, plus it's one of the best fertilizers for a vegetable garden and a good way to add phosphorus to the soil.
- Add horticultural grit. Heavy clay soils come with all sorts of problems. Although they are richer in nutrients than thinner soils, and retain water well making them a brilliant medium for growing trees, they can get waterlogged and freeze solid, becoming unworkable when conditions are very wet or cold.
- Re-use old container compost. At the end of the growing season, think twice about throwing away the old potting soil from grow bags and patio planters.
Jun 26, 2024 · Testing your soil’s pH is key for understanding its condition and making appropriate amendments. Soil pH affects nutrient availability and plant health. Most garden plants prefer a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil is too acidic or alkaline, you can amend it to reach the optimal range.
Planting larger vegetables such as eggplants, corn, and ochre upwind can drastically reduce the wind flow over garden soil. Climbing plants on trellis also work well in breaking the conventional wind flow. For potted plants, simply relocating the plant to a less windy area would prevent water loss and dry soil. 4. Remove Weeds
Ways to Improve Garden Soil. Here is what you need to know to have amazing soil in your garden: 1. Compost is Your Friend. Compost is made up of organic matter. You can use kitchen scraps and various other household items to create compost. Once these items have broken down, they are a great addition to your garden.
