Each spring, many gardeners give their soil a little attention. We add compost or amendments at planting time, hoping to keep the seed and plant we put in the ground. With the harvest hopefully going into July and August, we can really see how our soil is doing. Are our plants turning yellow and showing a lack of nutrients? Is our heavy clay soil compacted and a problem for carrots? Does our sandy soil lack moisture retention? Do our tomatoes have a disease? These are just a few of the things we may start to see. This observation means that it is a good time to improve the health of our soil. Here are a few tips to get started building summer soil:
The Golden Rule of Soil Building: Add Organic Matter
No matter what your soil is like—loamy, dry and sandy, or nutrient deficient—the best thing you can do is add organic matter. Organic matter contains the nutrients plants need to survive, helps build soil structure, holds moisture in dry soil, and helps wet soil drain better. There’s nothing he can’t do!
How to Add Organic Matter:
There are several ways to add organic matter to the garden. When farmers first start out, they often buy a load of finished compost, which can be expensive. In general, the goal is to add at least one inch of compost to each bed per year to help replenish our intake. However, there are ways you can add organic matter to compost without buying it:
- Plant cover crops in late summer and fall such as iron and clay peas, winter wheat and clover.
- Apply compost from reliable sources (some compost is contaminated with herbicides and other chemicals for the grass and feed they eat).
- Use thick layers of natural mulch that will break down over the course of the year, including grass, old leaves, or wood chips.
- Make your own compost from vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, leaves, brown cardboard, etc.
- Try making chicken manure or vermicomposting.
- Make biochar and add it to your garden beds or compost.
- Add wood ash from your fire pit or wood stove to your garden beds.
Adding organic matter can be challenging, and buying compost can be expensive. Start small! Small, well-maintained gardens that are rich in organic matter and nutrients will often be as productive as larger, less-maintained gardens.
Some Ways to Build Soil Health This Summer
Although organic matter is one of the best ways to care for your soil, it is not the only way. Here are a few other steps you can take this time of year to improve your garden next spring.
Draw, photograph, or record your plants.
Soil-borne diseases and insects are common problems in Southeast gardens. A good way to reduce these problems to some extent is to rotate your plants with the family on a three-year rotation. This means you avoid planting anything in the same plant family, such as nightshades or Solanaceae, including eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, and tomatillos, in the same bed for at least three years.
Summer is a good time to record how your garden layout will look like in 2024. Come spring, it can be a real challenge to remember what exactly was planted there. Take lots of photos, sketch your layout, or jot down notes in the app to make sure next season’s garden planning is a breeze!
Test your soil.
Late winter and early spring mean an influx of soil samples to many labs and extension agencies. By submitting a sample now, you can ensure that you receive and understand the results in plenty of time to start making changes for next year.
Minimize soil disturbance.
Disturbing your soil can affect drainage, kill beneficial insects, fungi, and bacteria, and cause moisture loss. Avoid planting if possible, choosing low-impact equipment such as wide forks.
Avoid bare soil.
We never want to leave the garden naked! Make sure your soil is covered whenever possible. Use natural shrubs and cover crops like the ones we mentioned above whenever possible. These not only add organic matter to the soil but also keep soil temperatures cool, reduce erosion, and provide habitat for beneficial insects and bacteria.
Eliminate congestion.
Some soils, such as clay, are easier to compact than others, but all can suffer from compaction. No matter what type of soil you have, you can reduce compaction in a few simple ways. First, use a no-till or reduced-till system. Second, eliminate traffic in garden beds whenever possible. Create permanent beds with paths between them that allow you to work the soil without standing on it. Finally, avoid working on wet soil, especially with tractors and other equipment.
This summer has been tough for farmers and plants! Any weakness in the health of our garden soil becomes more apparent as we experience week after week of hot, dry weather. If you notice your soil is not as healthy as you would like, now is a good time to take action. Ordering some cover crops, starting a compost pile, or planning a no-till program can help you significantly improve your productivity by 2025.
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