Gardening Series: Dig in the Dirt! Soil Preparation: How Do You Prepare Garden Soil for Planting? P4
- Shidonna Raven
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
March 14, 2025
Source: Almanac
Photo Source: Unsplash,
• 4:06
Shidonna Raven Garden & Cook - Garden Club
Ready to Improve Your Soil?
As discussed above, the best way to make poor soil into perfect soil is to add nutrient-rich organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or leaf mold.
The benefits of organic matter are countless! Adding organic matter…
loosens tight clay soil to improve drainage and aeration and release minerals.
bulks up sandy soil to improve its water-holding capacity and nutrient retention.
makes soil easier to dig and work with.
moves soil pH towards a level ideal for most fruits and vegetables.
provides a slow-release form of fertilizer across the season, reducing reliance on commercial fertilizers.
supplies food for beneficial soil organisms (earthworms, insects, fungi, and beneficial bacteria), which not only convert organic matter into nutrients for plants but also aerate the soil.
Common Soil Amendments
Here are some of the most common amendments and their functions:
Plant material: Leaves, straw, and grass clippings. Work material into the soil several months before planting to allow it time to decompose.
Compost: Decayed plant materials such as vegetable scraps. Work it into the soil at least a few weeks prior to planting. Excellent soil conditioner that adds nutrients. It may also lower soil pH.
Leaf mold: Decomposed leaves that add nutrients and structure to the soil.
Aged manure: A good soil conditioner. Use composted manure and incorporate it into the soil well ahead of planting. Do NOT use fresh manure in vegetable gardens, as it can damage plants and introduce diseases. Note: Manures contain a higher concentration of salts, so use them more sparingly than you would other organic amendments, particularly in dry regions where salts won’t be leached away by rainfall.
Coconut coir: A soil conditioner that helps soil retain water. This material is a more sustainable alternative to peat moss.
Bark, wood chips, and sawdust: These materials should be composted before being added to garden soil. Otherwise, they will rob the soil of nitrogen and, consequently, starve the plants of this essential nutrient.
Cover crops (green manure): Cover crops are more of a soil improvement technique than a soil amendment. Cover crops (such as clover, rye, or oats) are planted in the garden at the end of the growing season. They grow rapidly in the fall and are then worked into the soil in the spring. They often contain an abundance of nutrients, and their roots can provide structure. Read more about using cover crops.
Topsoil: Usually used with another amendment to provide volume. Replaces existing soil.
Lime: Raises the pH of acidic soil. Only use if recommended by a soil test.
Sulfur: Lowers the pH of alkaline soil. Only use if recommended by a soil test.
Wood ash: Raises the pH of acidic soil. Only use if recommended by a soil test.
How can you introduce more (organic or natural) fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet? How could this impact the environment? How could a home garden contribute to your and your family's over all health?
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