If your garden soil produces disappointing crops, there are several ways you can improve it. You can improve its pH (acidity or alkalinity), its texture, and the amount of nutrients it supplies to your plants. You can often achieve amazing results with just a little effort.

Improving Soil pH

If you suspect your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, take a sample to your County Extension or a large garden center and have it tested. A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil and one with a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline. If it is too acidic, add lime, hardwood ash, bone meal, crushed marble, or crushed oyster shells to raise the pH. If it is too alkaline, add sulfur, peat moss, sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal or leaf mold. In general, soils in moist climates tend to be acidic and those in dry climates are alkaline.

To determine the texture of your soil, take a handful and squeeze it into a ball. If it won't hold that shape, your soil is light, or sandy. If it forms a solid ball, it is heavy, and has a high proportion of clay. Either type of soil can be improved by adding organic matter such as compost or peat moss.

The amount of nutrients in your soil will depend to some extent on its texture. Sandy soil has a hard time holding on to water and nutrients, and may need to be fed with a balanced fertilizer more frequently than heavier soil. Generally speaking, you should fertilize your garden with a 5-10-10 formula after the first true leaves appear, then side dress with 10-10-10 every two weeks after flowering.