Tips for Building a Healthy Soil

Tips for building a healthy soil

Soil is the foundation for your plants. Focus on building a healthy soil, and your plants will benefit.

• Have your soil tested. Determine pH, salts and nutrient levels.
• Look at your soil. Is the soil rich in organic matter, does it have earthworms and does it hold moisture? Read Assessing Soil Quality to learn more.
• Desert soils have little organic matter. Add organic matter, such as compost, regularly to help hold nutrients and moisture in the soil. For landscape areas, dig in organic matter to a depth of 6 to 12 inches and mix well. Be careful not to damage the roots of existing plants.
• In vegetable beds, consider growing cover crops and green manures. These are temporary plantings that protect the soil from erosion and add organic matter. Turn them into the soil 2 to 3 weeks before planting new seed or plants. Learn more about cover crops.
• Never dig or till a soil that is wet. This will destroy the soil structure.
• Minimize tillage to maintain soil structure and reduce erosion.
• Test how well water soaks into the soil. Dig a hole, fill it with water, and see what happens. The water should seep into the soil at a minimum rate of ½ inch per hour. If drainage is poor, mix in organic matter and consider plant drainage requirements.
• Avoid compacting the soil. Limit vehicle or foot traffic, especially on wet soil.
• Keep bare soil covered with mulch or cover crops, so you don't lose it.
• Pesticide use can affect the organisms living in the soil that help break down the organic matter and make nutrients available to plants. Minimize use of pesticides whenever possible.

_{To learn more about your soil, dig a hole and look for signs of organic matter, earthworms and roots.}