Step 4: Supplement Your Soil
Have you had trouble growing grass or other plants in your soil? If the plants you want seem to wither and die when you plant them, and if the only things that seem to grow are weeds, you probably have soil problems!
Generally, three things affect soil quality:
- Nutrients: Plants need nutrients from organic matter to grow and thrive.
- Drainage: Plants also need water, but not too much water. If you have clay soil, you’ll struggle with water sitting in the soil instead of draining away, and if you have sandy soil, you’ll struggle with the water draining away too quickly.
- PH level: Some plants grow better in more acidic soil, and some grow better in more alkaline soil.
Adding nutrients
No matter your soil's issues, adding organic matter, such as compost, is always a good idea. You can also add in things such as:
- Leaves
- Grass clippings
- Manure
- Worm castings
- Ground bark
- Vegetable scraps
However, at this stage of preparing your soil for planting, it’s easiest to buy some compost and rake it in.
Improving drainage
Putting compost into your soil will not only add nutrients but will also improve drainage, helping clay soil drain and helping sandy soil retain water.
Doing this will make your lawn healthy enough to grow grass. For other plants, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and shrubs, research what is native to your region and what grows well in your soil type.
If you have your heart set on growing things that won’t grow well in your soil type, create raised beds and make your own bed soil.
Adjusting PH level
Ideal PH levels vary depending on what plants you wish to grow. The best plan is to research what you’d like to grow and then test your soil to see if your soil has the correct PH.
Remember:
Like with drainage, you’ll be better off overall if you pick plants that work well in your soil type and create a raised bed if you wish to grow something that needs a lot of soil amendment.
Once you’ve supplemented your soil with compost or whatever you deem necessary to add to your particular soil type, it’s time for the final step to prepare your soil for landscaping!
