How To Keep Your Garden Soil Healthy

Soil is a key focus for us growers all year round, but especially as the season comes to an end. It’s important to replenish the ground so that your plot is ready and raring to go come spring. So, follow these straightforward pointers to make sure that next season is your most productive ever!

How do I improve heavy clay soil?
Heavy soils can cause lots of issues for many fruit and veg crops. To create a better consistency that is free-draining, try digging in a good dose of well-rotted organic matter such as manure. Not only will it improve the texture of the ground, but this method will also add vital nutrients that your plants will thrive on. This should be done at least two weeks before you plan to grow anything on your plot, as the heat from this material can scorch young edibles.

My soil is very acidic, how can I adjust this?
While it may be ideal for growing specific crops such as blueberries, acid soil can make it extremely difficult to cultivate a general array of crops as most prefer a neutral pH balance. If you haven’t already, test the soil to get an accurate idea of how acidic the ground is. If you find that it is below 6 then it’s best to take action. Digging in lime will improve this, and it’s a good idea to regularly check this reading to stop your plants from suffering and prevent germination problems when outdoor temperatures rise.

What about sandy, poor structured soil?
A good dose of well-rotted organic matter (such as compost or manure) is the perfect remedy for this kind of issue. 1-2 buckets per square metre is a good base line amount to add to your veg bed. Doing this each autumn or winter will help to improve the integrity of the soil.

How do I keep my soil happy until spring?
Soil preservation is a very wise technique that will save you lots of time once the season steps up a gear. Turn heavy clay soil roughly now and leave the claggy clumps exposed. As they freeze and then thaw they break apart and become much easier to work in spring. Adding a topping of organic matter opens the texture still further. If you garden on lighter soils, like sand or chalk, leave the fork in the shed and concentrate on protecting them from the elements and boosting their ability to hold nutrients and moisture.

Mulch thickly with well-rotted manure for the worms to pull down through winter. When you are happy with the consistency and nutrient content of the ground, and you have raked and hoed the space thoroughly to remove weeds and large stones, it’s a good idea to cover this part of the plot with black plastic sheeting. Weigh this material down with pegs or large stones to prevent the wind from getting underneath it and to stop overwintering pests from taking refuge there. Doing this will maintain well-drained earth, reduce the likelihood of flooding, smother weeds and keep nutrients locked in, just where you need them.

Weeding tools
It’s important to remove any lingering weeds now to prevent them from overgrowing on your plot during the quieter winter months. There are a few different types of weeding tools to choose from, and it is wise to have a collection in order to remove any unwanted plant that springs to life on your plot. Remember to look after your garden equipment well, keep it all clean and don’t allow them to rust in the rain.

Save your back and use mulches
Biodegradable mulches will gradually release nutrients, helping to improve soil composition. Once the mulch has broken down, it will need replacing – some of the best materials to use are garden compost, wood chippings, processed conifer bark, seaweed and well-rotted manure. Mulches should be laid over moist soil with no weeds. Try not to smother small plants or pile mulch up near the stems of trees, as this can cause them to soften. Biodegradable mulches should be between 5cm-7.5cm thick

Don’t leave soil bare over winter
Pulling out all your spent crops and weeds and digging over your soil can do more harm than good. Not only does it damage the structure of the ground and leave it much more vulnerable to winter rain damage, it’s also making completely unnecessary work for yourself. So why not make use of this ready and waiting use of ground cover that will protect your soil during the colder months? It will help enable the intact soil to better absorb and retain water and hold onto nutrients.

Make use of green manures
There are many different kinds of green manures that can be sown now, they will act as ground cover and give soils a much-needed boost after a busy season.

Examples:
Clover will add humus to the soil and fix the nitrogen content. It works best in sandy soils.
Field beans can be sown in autumn and are a deep-rooting type which helps to break up heavy soils and also adds a good dose of nitrogen.
Winter tares are a fast-growing type that is winter hardy and great for using while the plot is quieter. Mix it with rye grass to ensure that your veg beds receive a good amount of coverage.

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