Ever wondered what the secret to healthy soil is? It is much easier than you think, no matter what type of soil you are starting with. With some knowledge and a little work, you can turn your soil into a thriving ecosystem that keeps your plants happy and helps create a biodiverse garden that wildlife will adore. The soil beneath your feet is a world of microorganisms that is full of life. We need good soil to grow plants and trees, so getting to know your soil is a positive step towards a thriving garden and planet.
What is healthy soil?
If you want to create healthy soil, here's what you should look out for:
- You will be looking for soil with a good texture.
- It will be crumbly and not too sandy and dry or not too clumpy and wet.
- It won't be full of stones, and it will feel easy to work in your hands.
- It will be rich in colour and nutrients, ideally able to hold nutrients but also be well drained.
- You may also want to check the pH of your soil to know which plants will grow best if the ground is alkaline, neutral or acidic .
No dig gardening
This gardening method means you never dig the soil (unless it's to harvest gently), allowing nature to do what it does best with a helping hand of mulch from you. Working the ground can damage the structure, so applying mulch to the surface and allowing the weather and the worms to incorporate it means less back-aching work for you and all the better for the soil.
No use of chemicals
When we apply chemicals to a natural environment, we alter the natural state of the soil, plants and wildlife. Some chemicals can damage the micro-organisms in your soil and alter the balance. We always offer a range of natural, organic products that are kinder to the soil..
Mulching
Adding lots of organic matter to your soil will enrich it to improve the texture, nutrient and moisture levels meaning better soil and healthier plants. Microorganisms in the soil will break down the organic matter for plants to absorb. There are many different types of organic matter you can use including farmyard manure, composts or bark. You can even make your own homemade compost which, if you are patient and get a good balance of green and brown waste into it, will be the inexpensive and wonderful for your soil.
Visit us to find out how to improve your soil with our range of soil improvers.
