If you’re struggling with rotting crops, wilted shrubs, or yellowed or dying plant leaves, you may have low-quality soil. It’s tempting to water more frequently or use more fertilizer, but those won’t improve the nutrient content of the dirt. As a result, you’ll continue to have the same problems year after year. If you want your garden to flourish, improve soil quality with the following tips.

How to Enhance Soil Quality

1. Add Compost or Organic Material

Compost supplies your soil with essential nutrients. Use the finished product, meaning it’s dark in color and has a crumbly texture. Adding 3 to 4 inches of finished compost prior to planting and working it into the soil (about 6 inches deep) will supply your plants with added nutrients. Another option is to use raw organic matter like sawdust or manure. These require a similar method as the compost, but you should add them at least a month before planting.

2. Use Mulch

Using mulch throughout the year protects your soil from erosion and runoff during heavy rains. It also adds essential nutrients and microorganisms as well as provides insulation to keep them from dying in the winter. As a result, those nutrients and microorganisms are alive and well come springtime and supply your plants with everything they need to thrive. For maximum protection, add a couple of inches of mulch in late fall, typically after the first hard freeze, to see the most benefits in spring.

3. Test pH Levels

If your soil’s pH levels are imbalanced, your plants may be deprived of essential nutrients. An ideal pH range is between 6.3 and 6.8. Use an at-home test kit to determine the current level. If you get anything below a 6.0, the soil is too acidic, and you can use lime to bring it in balance. Anything around 7.5 is too alkaline and can be lowered with sulfur.

Improving soil quality isn’t easy, but it’s critical if you want your garden to flourish this year. If you have questions about ways to improve your soil, turn to the experts at Northgate Greenhouses in Cincinnati, OH. This award-winning, year-round greenhouse has everything you need, from annuals, perennials, and soil and expert advice to grow the garden of your dreams. Visit their website to learn more, or call (513) 729-1134 to speak with a professional.