Not everyone realizes the importance of healthy garden soil when it comes to the health of their plants. In actuality, soil is one of the most important factors that affect a plant's health. Assuming that a plant is receiving the correct amounts of sun and water, healthy soil will, in turn, produce healthy plants. There are many ways to improve the health of your soil, and I will continue by discussing some of these ways in more detail.

One sure fire way of enriching your garden soil is by adding compost. Compost is nothing more than fresh, new born soil. Compost is the product of organic materials that have been completely decomposed. By making your very own compost pile, you can not only dispose of all of your organic household waste in an eco friendly manner, but will also be supplying yourself with a steady supply of nutrient rich fertilizer for your garden. To apply compost to your garden, simply apply the compost to the top of your soil and work it in with a rake.

If the soil in your garden seems unusually poor, you can try testing the soil's pH, or acidity. To test the pH of your soil, purchase a soil testing kit from your local garden supply store. These test kits are very easy to use, and inexpensive as well. Just follow the directions on the test kit's package, and be sure to test multiple locations in your garden to ensure an accurate assessment of your garden as a whole. The test results range from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic), with 7 being a neutral reading. Most plants thrive in soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7. Research the types of plants that you are trying to grow to see what pH contents are most appropriate for the soil of these plants. If the readings you get from your soil sample tests are significantly different from the ideal pH that you would like for your garden soil, then you may want to consider balancing your soil.

By balancing the pH of your garden soil, you are either raising the acid content or the alkaline content of the soil. Again, compost is an excellent resource as it tends neutralize garden soil, bringing it closer to a pH of 7. If your soil has a higher acid content than you would like, you can try working lime, wood ashes, or ground oyster shells into the soil. If your soil's alkaline content is too high, try granular sulfur, peat moss, or pine needles. Once the pH of your soil has been tamed, you should start seeing healthier, greener, and bigger plants and vegetables.

I hope this helps to solve some of your soil related issues. Healthier soil really does translate to healthier, more productive plants, and with healthier soil, there is less need for fertilizers. That being said, good luck in all of your gardening ventures, and I hope you grow lots of healthy plants!