How to Fix Bad Soil

The term ‘bad soil’ encompasses a lot of factors and causes, but generally it is the term used for soil that can be difficult to grow plants in. Suspect problems with your soil if you observe that your plants fail to thrive or to produce a healthy crop, even with the addition of fertilizers.

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Problems with the soil quality often merit further testing. The issue can then be solved through the addition of certain chemicals and organic matter that can help correct the problem. Common soil problems include a problem with the pH level, deficiency or excess of fertilizers or micronutrients, and compaction.

pH

The pH of the soil should be neutral. If it is too acidic or basic, it can affect plant growth. Some plants, however, prefer slightly acidic soil. You can use pH testers to determine your soil’s pH level. pH testers can be bought from local nurseries and gardening shops. You can also order them online or through the mail.

If it turns out that your soil is acidic, you should add lime. On the other hand, if it is basic, add more compost to it.

Fertilizers

Plants need adequate amounts of minerals such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. These minerals are referred to as the ‘3 Major Elements’. Other minor elements needed by your plants include magnesium, calcium, and iron, to name a few.

Your soil can either have too much or too little of these minerals. Too little and your plants will fail to thrive, too much and your plants will die.

You can determine the fertilizer content of your soil with the help of soil tests. Remedying the problem is done by adding fertilizers in the right proportions. We’ll tackle fertilizers in-depth later.

Micro-Nutrients

Soil contains a wide array of micro-nutrients that is used up by the plants, enhancing their growth as well as their health. Determining the levels of micro-nutrients can be done by submitting a sample of your garden soil to local laboratories for testing.

Compaction

This problem is commonly seen in clay soil. Compaction is a condition where the soil has compacted too tightly, making it harder for the roots to penetrate it. Compacted soil prevents the roots from getting the necessary nutrients to keep the plant alive.

Compaction can be remedied by the breaking up of the existing soil and the addition of organic material, other soil types, and compost.

Soil Borne Diseases

This is a rare occurrence, but it’s a possible problem if you have submitted your soil to all sorts of tests and you still do not know why your plants aren’t thriving. You should probably send out a sample of your soil to test for diseases.

If your garden’s soil is diagnosed with a certain disease, you can ask advice from the laboratory on what measures you should take to improve your soil’s health. In some cases, there are treatments that can help get rid of the diseases. Sometimes, however, all you can do is to wait and let the soil get rid of the disease itself. Subsequent testing will be necessary to determine if the soil in your garden is safe to plant in or not.

I’m aware that the above methods of improving your soil seem difficult and costly – that tends to be true. In fact, the more problematic your soil is, the more expensive and exhausting it is to fix. That’s why I often turn to making my own soil instead.