For a start it’s alive – well at least in the sense that just one teaspoon of soil contains more microbes than there are people on the planet. It also supports a whole host of fungi and invertebrates which decompose organic matter, releasing vital nutrients for plants.
Soil thrives on a wholefood diet. Regularly feeding soil with compost keeps it teeming with those healthy microbes whilst also improving its structure so that it can hold on to moisture and nutrients.
Soil doesn’t like to be left bare in winter. Just like us it needs protection from the wind, rain and cold which can cause it to erode and lose nutrients. If you give it a blanket (a mulch or a green manure) it will also help to suppress the weeds and add natural fertiliser for next year’s growth.
Soil likes to be left alone to get on with the job. Repeated digging interrupts the establishment of healthy soil organisms, including all sorts of fauna and fungi. Adopting a no dig approach to gardening will lead to healthier soil and greater productivity.
And like us all, soil needs to be understood. The pH and mineral composition and structure of soil can vary enormously. If we want plants to thrive we need to choose the plants that prefer the soil we have. Testing your soil’s acidity and analysing its composition before you choose what to plant is absolutely key.
