Maintaining healthy soil

Healthy soil isn’t something you achieve once - it’s something you build and maintain over time. The good news is that small, regular habits make the biggest difference.

Here’s how to keep your soil in great shape season after season.

When and how to improve my soil

Think of soil improvement as a little-and-often task. You don’t need to overhaul your soil constantly - steady, consistent additions keep it improving naturally.

• Compost: 1–2 times a year is ideal - spring and autumn are great times to do it.
• Sheep pellets or slow release fertiliser: every 6–8 weeks in the growing season (spring - autumn) - sheep pellets can be used year-round.
• Mulch: top up twice a year, or whenever it starts to thin out. Ideally in early spring after frosts when the soil is moist, and again in autumn before frosts.

The difference between compost, fertiliser and mulch 

Each one plays a different role and using all three together gives you healthier soil and healthier plants.

• Compost: improves soil structure and feeds the soil life. Think of it as long term soil building. Compost is a rich source of nitrogen and trace elements, such as zinc and boron, to help keep soil in balance.
• Fertiliser: feeds the plants directly with nutrients they can use right away or over time. Organic fertilisers feed the soil and plants, while synthetic fertilisers bypass the soils processes and feed the plants directly.
• Mulch: protects the surface, keeps moisture in and helps reduce weeds. It doesn’t mix into the soil quickly. Mulch breaks down over time and is a good source of organic matter for the soil.

Helping your soil hold more moisture

Healthy soil holds water more evenly, which means less watering and happier plants. Moisture retention comes down to building good structure and protecting the soil’s surface. 

• Add compost to increase the soil’s 'sponge' effect.
• Keep the soil covered with mulch or living groundcovers.
• Water deeply 2-3 times a week, rather than daily, to encourage deep roots.
• Avoid frequent digging, which breaks up soil structure.
• Add organic matter regularly - it’s the long term solution.
• Create terraces to prevent run off on a slope.

Is it possible to add too much organic matter?

Yes - but it’s rare. As long as you’re adding finished compost, aged manure and using mulch on top, you’re not likely to overdo it. Problems can happen when:

• The organic matter was very rich in nitrogen – without a balanced fertiliser it will produce a lot of leafy growth at the expense of flowering, fruiting and root development.
• The organic matter is too fresh and not sufficiently composted (e.g. fresh manure). It can still be ‘hot’ – meaning it’s still decomposing and producing heat. In this state it can burn the roots of plants.
• You add huge amounts at once, burying your existing soil.
• The material is high in carbon (like wood chips) and ties up nitrogen.

Learn more at our Soil Health Hub >