8 Steps to Healthier Soil
Great gardens don’t start with plants. They start with soil. Whether you're growing veggies, ornamentals, or hardy shrubs, the secret to vigorous growth and fewer pest problems is a living, nutrient-rich foundation beneath your feet. Healthy soil isn’t just dirt; it’s a whole ecosystem. Below are some straight forward steps to help you nurture it like a pro.
1. Start With a Soil Test (It’s Easier Than You Think!)
Before adding anything, find out what your soil actually needs. A simple soil test reveals your pH, nutrient levels, and organic matter—saving you both time and money. Durham County Cooperative Extension office offers a quick test that includes recommendations tailored to your soil type (read more about how to test soil through Coop Ext here.) Samples from April-Nov are free and samples from Dec 1-March 31 cost $4 per sample.
2. Add Organic Matter—The Garden’s Multivitamin.
Compost is the single best thing you can add to improve soil structure, retain moisture, and boost fertility. Work in 1–2 inches of compost each year, especially in early spring or fall. Other great additions include leaf mold, well-aged manure, and shredded bark fines. The Briggs Avenue Community Garden and Geer street Learning Garden typically offer free bags of compost to the public at annual transplant sales. Lastly, many local coffee shops including Cocoa Cinnamon often give free coffee ground scraps to customers who ask.
3. Protect Your Soil With Mulch
Bare soil loses moisture, nutrients, and microbial life. A 2–3 inch layer of mulch (pine straw, shredded leaves, bark, or straw) helps suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, reduce erosion, and feed soil organisms as it breaks down. In the winter, mulch also acts like a cozy blanket for root systems! Wondering where and how to get free mulch? Check out Chip Drop, a free service providing freshly chipped wood recently cut down in your zip code.
4. Avoid Over-Tilling
While tilling loosens hard ground, over-tilling destroys soil structure and disrupts beneficial fungi and microorganisms. Whenever possible, hand-cultivate lightly, use a broadfork to aerate, and let compost and mulch do the softening for you. Healthy soil has visible earthworms, crumbly texture, and good drainage. No heavy machinery required!
5. Grow Cover Crops to Rebuild Soil Naturally
Cover crops aren’t just for farms. In home gardens, plants like clover, winter rye, or crimson clover help add nitrogen, prevent erosion, break up compacted soil and increase organic matter. Currently in our store we sell a few different cover crop seeds options! Living roots help keep moisture, structure, and microbial life steady. If your beds are empty in winter, add cover crops or plant cold-tolerant ornamentals. More roots = healthier soil.
6. Rotate Your Plantings
Planting the same thing in the same spot every year depletes soil nutrients and encourages pests. By rotating families (tomatoes → greens → beans → flowers), you’re giving soil a chance to replenish both nutrients and beneficial microorganisms.
7. Don’t Forget Drainage
Soil that stays soggy is just as problematic as soil that dries out too fast. If you struggle with drainage, loosen the soil with organic matter (ie compost), try raised beds, choose plants that match your soil type and prefer damp soil! Remember: healthy garden soil drains well but holds enough moisture to stay evenly damp.
8. Be Patient—Soil Health Is Built Over Time
The best gardens come from consistent care. With each season of adding organic matter, mulching, and minimizing disturbance, your soil becomes richer, lighter, and more alive.