Soil is a living natural resource that is the foundation of all healthy plants. It is vital to create and maintain Soil health to maximize food production in our gardens. Most of us are not blessed with the ideal soil in our backyards, and creating healthy soil is an ongoing work of progress.

You likely either have sandy soil that drains so quickly that plants don’t receive adequate nutrition and hydration, or clay-like soil that pools water and deprives root systems of oxygen. The good news is that no matter what kind of soil you have, you can significantly improve it. Let’s explore some of the secrets to soil health, what characteristics we are striving for, and how to attain it in your own gardens.

Characteristics of Healthy Soil

The secrets to healthy soil involve more than one distinguishing characteristic. Many qualities merge together to compile what experts would consider prime soil for planting and growing.

• Soil structure is the way the soil particles are organized. Ideally, you want to have soil with pockets of space between fragments so that air, water, nutrients, and microbes can easily maneuver around root systems.
• Organic matter is the decomposed remnants of plants and animals. Healthy soil should be rich in organic matter.
• pH is the acidity level of your soil. pH levels affect the nutrients in the soil and how readily the plants in your garden will have the capacity to obtain them. Individual plants have ideal pH levels, where they thrive optimally.

Tips for Building Healthy Soil

Are you looking to create a masterpiece of fluffy, rich, well-draining soil? Ideal soil health is developed over time. Follow this combination of steps to get you started on your journey to carrying out the secrets of healthy soil.

Avoid Using Chemicals in the Garden

As a gardener, it is essential to appreciate and encourage beneficial insects, microorganisms, and microbes that live in the soil. All of these assets of nature come together to feed and protect your plants, so it is vital to shelter them from harm.

Chemicals can wipe out populations of beneficial insects and wildlife and harm the environment. These groups are part of our ecosystem and actually can help to develop healthy soil.  Also, those chemicals can leach into your soil and, consequently, your harvest, so opt for organic methods.

Amend Soil with Organic Matter

The organic matter in soil amendments embeds itself in between soil crevices so that the soil stays moist for longer durations. Plant roots then have sufficient opportunities to soak up water into their root systems before it drains away and provides aeration for plant roots. It also helps by binding to existing soil particles to create fluffy, rich soil that does not pool water.

It may be wise to start composting because compost is one of the best resources you can add to your soil to enrich it and improve the soil structure. It is often referred to as “black gold” for its rich dark soil and high nutrient content and its highly regarded value in the garden bed.  Well-decomposed compost is filled with beneficial microbes, great texture, and food for plants.

Recommended soil amendments include:

• Compost
• Worm Castings
• Earthworms
• Poultry Manure
• Shredded Leaves

• Grass Clippings
• Pumice
• Sand
• Perlite

Use a Layering Method When Adding Soil Amendments

Use nature as your guide when adding soil amendments by layering your soil amendments and not tilling your soil. This method will preserve your garden beds’ soil structure and leave the beneficial microorganisms that thrive there undisturbed. Spread a few inches of organic matter consistently and amply over the soil surface in a layer.

Over time, the amendments will incorporate themselves into your soil via plant root systems, earthworms, and other microorganisms. Essentially, by layering soil amendments and allowing nature to do its work, you are building your soil from the top-down and from deep in the soil surface upward.

Crop Rotation for Soil Health

Planting the same crop in the same spot in the garden bed can do more harm than good.  Not only does it deplete the soil of nutrients, but it also makes your plants more susceptible to pests and disease.  Even soil likes a change occasionally, so preserve your soil by rotating your crops each year.

• The practice of crop rotation is excellent for the plants you grow as well as for the soil.
• Plants all have different nutrient needs, and some plants even fix the soil with nutrients and improve soil quality.
• Some have deep root systems that plunge into the soil, really working the soil.
• Others have shallow root systems which barely break the surface of the soil.
• Mixing up the plants in your garden beds is a key element to good soil health.

Mulch Your Garden and Plant Cover Crops

Stop soil erosion, protect microorganisms, and feed your soil when your garden beds are in the off-season by keeping soil covered. When your soil is covered it is less likely to wash away from the elements. Cover crops naturally work soil amendments into the soil and help maintain soil structure. Both mulch and cover crops bolster are some of the secrets to healthy soil for many reasons.

Growing vegetable garden cover crops and mulching your garden beds will help:

• Fix the soil with nutrients and restore soil fertility.
• Protect beneficial insects and give them a sheltered environment.
• Insulate the soil, protecting the root systems of perennial plants and bulbs.
• Keep weeds at bay.

How Healthy Soils Make for a Healthy Life

Once you are privy to the secrets of great soil health, it is easy to get started, taking the necessary steps to build your existing soil. Every one of these tips will bring you closer to the optimal growing environment for your plants.  Continue to practice these methods, bolstering your soil year after year and protecting the earth. The healthy soil you create will reward you through healthier plants, magnificent blooms, improved foliage, and bountiful harvests.