Test your soil for pH, texture, and nutrients. Deficits and pH imbalances can be found with soil testing kits or professional analysis.
Add compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mold, or grass clippings to the soil. Organic matter strengthens soil, retains water, and supplies plant nutrition.
Mulching regulates soil temperature, reduces weed development, and retains moisture. Straw, wood chips, and shredded leaves improve soil as they decompose.
Rotate crops to reduce nitrogen depletion and soil-borne illnesses. Each season, rotating plant families in defined locations improves soil fertility.
Tilling disturbs soil structure and beneficial organisms. Consider no-till or reduced-tillage to protect soil structure and organic content.
Plant clover, rye, or legumes in the off-season. Cover crops reduce weeds, prevent erosion, and decay to provide nutrients.
Use organic fertilizers to boost soil nutrition. Compost tea, fish emulsion, bone meal, and seaweed extracts nourish soil without harming beneficial species.
Add amendments to remedy inadequacies based on soil test results. In acidic soils, lime raises pH, while sulfur lowers it in alkaline soils.