Growing a great garden starts with your foundation: soil. When I first started gardening, I didn’t realize the importance of soil. Plant some seeds, add water, and you’d think you’d have a healthy plant. This isn’t the case, unless you get really lucky. I had some issues with some plants just not taking off and being healthy. I struggled with my container vegetables. They just weren’t growing as I expected. Stunted, droopy leaves, only a couple flowers. As I worked through my issues, I realized I had neglected to adequately prepare the soil to grow nutrient hungry vegetables.
That’s when I learned one of the most important lessons of gardening: healthy soil makes everything easier. When your soil is thriving, your plants have what they need to grow strong, fight off pests, and produce better harvests. When your soil is poor, no amount of watering or fertilizer will fix the problem for long.
Our goal is to create a natural environment that supports healthy plants and gives us the best chance to achieve our gardening goals. As we will discuss later in this post, healthy soil not only helps your plants grow and produce great food, it also helps with pest and disease control. With a few simple maintenance steps, like mulching and composting, your soil health can be maintained for years. We’ll talk more about simple beginner garden soil tips to help you achieve the best garden possible.
The good news? You don’t need perfect soil to start gardening. Improving garden soil just requires you to understand what you’re working with and take a few simple steps to improve it. As the seasons pass, your soil will continue to improve and so will your garden. If you’re just starting out, this guide is part of Backyard Gardening Basics: Getting Started.
So let’s start by looking at why soil is more than just dirt and why it deserves your attention.
Why Soil Health Matters
Soil is a complex and fascinating ecosystem of earth-bound materials, nutrients in the form of organic and inorganic matter, and an abundance of life. Maintaining a balance of these will ensure that your garden thrives. When the balance shifts due to lack of nutrients or loss of microbial life (tilling your soil too deeply) your plants will struggle.
Plants are a lot like us. When we eat a variety of healthy foods, our bodies get the fuel they need to thrive. Live on junk food alone, and you’ll hit a wall sooner or later. Plants need that same kind of balanced, nutritious foundation in their soil if you want them to grow to their full potential.
Healthy soil helps your plants:
- Grow stronger roots that can access water and nutrients in your backyard garden.
- Resist pests and diseases naturally.
- Produce bigger, better-tasting harvests.
The best part is that you don’t need to fix everything overnight. Small improvements, like adding compost or mulching, make a big difference over time. The next step in achieving your backyard gardening goals is to determine what kind of soil you have available and if it needs extensive amendments or a few simple changes.
Testing Your Soil
We now understand the importance of soil health and all the benefits it brings to our backyard garden, but we need to take a look at the soil you have available. Early in my gardening journey, I decided early on to mainly grow in raised beds. I had done a few tests on how the current soil drained and the overall soil composition and decided it would be easier to build some raised beds and fill them exactly with the best soil I could afford. The USDA has an entire write up on [Soil Health Assessment | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soils/soil-health]
Over the years, I’ve added new areas to the garden. This includes two garden beds on either side of my front walkway. In these areas I’m slowly converting these to a mixed in-ground and raised bed design. I have to do a lot of soil amendment in the in-ground area due to the previous owners filling this with weed stop (plastic), gravel, rocks and sand. The nutrient levels here are depleted and the composition of the soil is terrible at best. I’m slowly converting this area and by next spring I should have a strong foundation to grow some amazing flowers. Taking a slow and measured approach has made it much easier for me to assess the area and make changes prior to any major commitment to materials. Want to see how soil and climate work together? Check out Understanding Garden Zones and Vegetables.
At-Home Soil Tests
Like most gardeners, I usually try DIY methods before spending money on pricier options. I got one of the simple soil test kits that show pH and nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or N-P-K). These are good baselines for seeing the basic make up of your soil. I tend to use these when I need a specific pH level or I’m unsure how depleted an area is of nutrients. They are inexpensive, but also have the least accuracy. I’d use this as a baseline. Get an idea of what you are dealing with. If you need specific conditions for a particular plant variety you want to grow, I’d try one of the other methods so you can get a more precise reading and make the best decision possible. These typically cost between $10 and $40.
Mail-In Lab Soil Tests
I’ve done one mail-in soil test in the garden area. This was mainly to see how the process worked but to also give me an idea if a section of the garden would be suitable for in-ground testing. The details provided were a bit overwhelming at first.
Here is what was included in the test results:
- pH level.
- N-P-K levels
- Secondary macronutrients (sulfur, calcium, magnesium)
- Micronutrients like zinc, iron, and copper
Don’t feel like you need to understand every number. Focus on the basics (pH and N-P-K) and you’ll be fine. I feel knowing your N-P-K macronutrient levels along with knowing the pH is sufficient for most of us. Also by using well decomposed compost and adding some organic fertilizers as needed, your healthy soil should have most of these available, you just need to make sure that they can get absorbed by your plants using proper watering and soil maintenance. The cost for these tests can range from about $20 up to $150 for the more advanced tests.
Local Cooperative Extension Office
If you want the best of both worlds, check with your local cooperative extension office. They often offer soil testing services at a reasonable price and provide recommendations tailored to your region. While I haven’t personally used their services, I did talk with them and the representative looked over my lab test results and gave me some advice specific to my area. That is the one nice part about using this method, you get someone who is local and knows the conditions you are growing in. They can give advice and recommend ways to help you improve your soil and they did it for free when I talked with them. The cost for service can range from $10 to about $60 depending on your area and the test you request. Here is a great resource to help you find a local office, USDA – Land-Grant Colleges and Universities Extension Offices Directory.
Which Soil Test Should You Choose?
- At-Home Test Kits → Best for beginners who want a quick, cheap overview. Cost: $10 to $40.
- Mail-In Lab Tests → Best for gardeners who want detailed results and are willing to invest. Cost: $20 to $150.
- Cooperative Extension Office → Best all-around option, especially for region-specific advice and long-term soil health. Cost: $10 to $60.
If you’re just starting out, a beginner soil testing kit is a great way to get familiar with the process. As your garden grows, consider upgrading to a lab test or extension office for more accurate, tailored results.
Choosing the Right Growing Method
Once you understand your soil, the next step is deciding how you want to grow your garden. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Your space, soil condition, budget, and even lifestyle will play a role. The good news? You don’t have to pick just one. I use raised garden beds, self-watering containers, simple containers and pots, and grow bags in my garden. This is a flexible system and one you can experiment with. Working on a budget? Here’s how I built my garden without overspending: How to Start a Backyard Vegetable Garden on a Budget.
Containers and Grow Bags
Containers and grow bags are often the first step for new gardeners. They’re the perfect answer for limited space gardens like patios, small yards, or when your native soil requires a lot of work to get the garden ready. They are extremely flexible and since they can be moved, you can protect your plants from a hail storm by moving them under cover, or rearrange them as needed.
The tradeoff is water. Containers dry out faster than beds, so you’ll need to stay on top of watering, especially in summer. They also limit root growth, so some crops (like tomatoes) may need bigger containers than you expect. You have some options like using self-watering containers. These can help with watering but also come with drawbacks. Nothing is 100% perfect so you’ll need to pick the methods that work best for your situation.
Containers were a bit of a challenge for me. Some of my early tomatoes and peppers struggled because I didn’t plan for how much space their roots require. For a lot of plants a container with a volume of 5 gallons is recommended. For my tomatoes I use 10 gallon grow bags. Finding the right method for you will take some experimenting. Try out different sizes and make sure to document the process in your journal. By tweaking your methods, you can find a sweet spot.
Raised Beds
Raised bed gardening is where I focus most of my energy. When your soil is not ideal for a garden, a raised bed literally raises the bar. You avoid poor soil conditions and can control the ecosystem much easier. Using mulch, cover crops, and crop rotation will help you maintain healthy raised beds that will produce the best tasting fruits and vegetables.
The biggest limiting factor with raised garden beds is the initial cost to get them up and running. Building your own can require purchasing tools you do not currently own. The materials are not cheap either. Prices jumped significantly during COVID-19 and haven’t recovered. Purchasing ready-made raised garden beds is another option, but these are still not cheap. Remember, you will need to fill the beds with material, mainly with a good soil mix.
My garden started with two 4×8 foot wooden raised garden beds. I built them myself and they are still in use today after 5+ years.
In-Ground Gardens
If you’re lucky enough to have decent soil already, in-ground gardening might be the choice for you. It’s the cheapest option since you don’t have to buy materials or soil. It also allows you to grow larger crops like corn or potatoes that don’t fit well in containers or small raised beds.
The downside is that if your soil isn’t great, it can be a struggle to fix. Amending large areas takes more work and more quality compost. Weeds are also more of a battle in in-ground beds than in containers or raised setups.
Mixing Methods
Like many other backyard gardeners, I have a mixed setup. This allows me to grow a lot more variety and control how much space I use. In my garden, I grow herbs on the patio in containers, paste tomatoes in raised beds, and cherry and slicer tomatoes in 10-gallon grow bags. Don’t feel pressured to stick to just one method. Choosing the best gardening method isn’t about what works best for everyone else. It’s about what works best for you and your vision for your garden. Try out a few different ones and see how things go. You might find that growing in containers works better for you than building raised beds which are a more permanent decision.
Which Growing Method is Best?
- Containers → Best for beginners, small spaces, or poor soil.
- Raised Beds → Best for control, drainage, and manageable plots.
- In-Ground → Best if you already have good soil and want larger plantings.
The best method is going to come down to your preferences, your soil conditions, and which you find most enjoyable. Start small, experiment, and grow from there. Check out our post on Raised Bed and Container Gardening for Small Spaces (available soon) for details on how to implement these methods easily.
Soil Maintenance Basics
Healthy soil is something you will be working on for the entirety of your gardening journey. Don’t try to fix everything today. Look at the process as a marathon. You’re going to slowly and with measured care, improve your soil year after year. Adding a few simple steps before, during, and after a growing season will help you maintain a vibrant and healthy garden. The right gear can also make soil prep easier. Here’s my list of Essential Beginner Gardening Tools.
Compost: Feeding Your Soil Naturally
Compost is by far the easiest and best way to improve your soil health. Compost sourced from a trusted local nursery will add nutrients, improve the structure, and support beneficial microbes that make nutrients available to plants. Adding a small layer at the beginning of the growing season can dramatically change composition and performance.
At its core, composting is simple: combine nitrogen-rich materials, carbon-rich materials, and a little water, and let nature do the rest. This can take about 2–6 months depending on how frequently you turn and the size of the materials you add to the pile. I started with a 4×4 bin and just began adding grass clippings, plant scraps, and leaves. The grass and food scraps brought nitrogen, the leaves provided carbon, and I watered it down and turned it every few days. By mid-season I had rich compost that I could dress my beds with to add much-needed nutrients back into the soil. Using compost is one of the best beginner garden soil tips I can give. For more detail, check out Composting and Fertilizing Made Simple for Beginners (on the way) — where I’ll share how to get the best results from your compost.
Mulching: Protecting and Nourishing the Soil
Mulch isn’t just about keeping your garden looking tidy, it also protects and enriches your garden soil. A nice thick layer of mulch helps your soil retain moisture. This means you won’t have to water as often. Adding mulch to your garden will also help manage weeds. It won’t eradicate them, but by blocking the sunlight from reaching the soil, you not only prevent the soil from drying out, but also slow the weeds’ ability to photosynthesize. Other benefits include temperature regulation and as the mulch decomposes it introduces nutrients into the soil.
When I first added mulch to my raised beds, I immediately noticed I didn’t need to water as often. Mulch is an amazing method for natural, organic soil maintenance. You have many options for mulch: straw, grass clippings, leaves, and wood. The soil stayed damp even in the hottest parts of summer. One important tip: don’t pile mulch directly against plant stems or trunks, since that can lead to rot. A couple of inches around your plants is enough to keep your soil protected and nourished.
Crop Rotation and Cover Crops
Another key to soil health is plant variety. Growing the same crop in the same spot every year drains the soil of specific nutrients and gives pests and diseases a head start. By changing what crops you grow in your beds and containers, you change the conditions making it harder for diseases and pests to take root.
I use cover crops all the time to help with nitrogen deficient soil and to give pollinators some much needed food. Easy to plant and care for, sprinkling some clover, rye, buckwheat or even garbanzo bean seeds to a dormant bed can make a huge difference in the soil health and the long term health of your garden. I plant cover crops mid-season, at the end of the season, and even early on if my main crops won’t go in until later.
Here’s an interesting article on cover crops from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program: Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations.
Watering Habits for Soil Health
Watering plays two important roles in your garden: it keeps plants alive and healthy but also helps maintain healthy soil. Making sure you are watering the correct amount is very important. Check your soil and water only when needed. If you are dealing with a heat wave, check more often and adjust your watering frequency as needed. Stressed plants will also add stress to your healthy soil.
The best practice is deep, less frequent watering. This encourages roots to grow deeper, making plants more resilient. When I switched from quick, shallow watering to using drip irrigation, I noticed my plants looked stronger and withstood hot weather better. If you’re just starting out, even a simple rain barrel and a watering can will help you keep soil moisture steady without overdoing it.
In our post How to Protect Your Garden from Summer Heat Stress (coming soon!), you’ll learn simple ways to keep your garden healthy and productive during summer heat waves.
Quick Takeaway: Soil Maintenance Made Simple
- Compost → Improves fertility and structure.
- Mulch → Protects soil and conserves water.
- Crop Rotation & Cover Crops → Keep soil healthy and reduce pests.
- Smart Watering → Builds stronger, deeper roots.
Healthy soil doesn’t happen in a day — but with steady care, you’ll see noticeable improvements every season. Once your soil is ready, the next step is planning where everything goes. Here’s my guide on Planning Your First Backyard Vegetable Garden.
Amending Soil: Improving What You Have
While compost is a great addition and can greatly improve your soil health, there are other things you can add that bring great value to your backyard garden. Amending your soil is about adding the materials that will help improve the soil structure, adjusting the pH balance, and introducing nutrients that have been depleted after a long growing season.
Adding Organic Matter Beyond Compost
While compost is the gold standard, there are other organic materials you can use to improve your soil:
- Manure (aged or composted) → Adds nutrients and improves texture. Make sure it’s well-rotted to avoid burning plants.
- Leaf mold → Decayed leaves that act like a sponge, holding moisture and improving soil structure.
- Grass clippings → Adds nitrogen, but use them in thin layers or mix into compost to prevent matting.
- Wood chips → Great for mulching pathways or perennial beds; they break down slowly, adding organic matter over time.
I’ve used worm castings for years now to help amend and add nutrients to my garden soil. It’s one of the best organic soil maintenance steps you can take.
Adjusting Soil pH
Soil pH directly affects nutrient availability. It also influences the activity and diversity of soil microorganisms. Plan to test every few years to make sure your soil is staying in balance. Most vegetables prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil (around 6.0–7.0).
- If your soil is too acidic: Add lime (powdered or pelletized).
- If your soil is too alkaline: Add sulfur or peat moss.
This is one area where guessing is not an option. Perform a pH test or pay to get one done and follow the instructions on your chosen amendment product.
Using Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers can give your soil a boost without the risks that come with synthetic ones. Some good options include:
- Bone meal: High in phosphorus, great for root crops and flowering plants.
- Blood meal: High in nitrogen, useful for leafy greens.
- Fish emulsion: A quick-acting, all-purpose liquid fertilizer.
- Kelp meal: Adds trace minerals and stimulates root growth.
These don’t replace healthy soil practices, but they can help when your garden needs a quick pick-me-up. I like using fish emulsion early in the season when transplants are getting established. The smell isn’t great, but the results are.
When to Amend Soil
- Before planting: Mix amendments into the top 6–8 inches of soil.
- During the season: Use side-dressing (sprinkling around plants) or liquid fertilizers for a boost.
- After harvest: Add compost or cover crops to replenish what was taken out.
Quick Takeaway: Amending Soil Made Simple
- Organic matter: Compost, manure, leaf mold, clippings.
- pH balance: Test first, then add lime or sulfur as needed.
- Organic fertilizers: Bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, kelp.
Amending soil isn’t a one-time fix. Each season’s small improvements build healthier soil and a more productive vegetable garden.
Why Healthy Soil Matters Beyond Vegetables
When most of us start gardening, we think of soil as just the stuff that holds our plants in place. But healthy soil is so much more than that. It’s a living ecosystem that affects your whole backyard garden, from how well your vegetables grow to how many pests you deal with each season.
Healthy soil does three big things beyond feeding your plants:
- Improves natural pest control: Plants growing in nutrient-rich, balanced soil are stronger and less attractive to pests. Weak plants put out stress signals (yes, plants really do this), and pests tend to target them first.
- Boosts disease resistance: A diverse soil ecosystem helps protect your garden from fungal outbreaks and other soil-borne diseases. Instead of needing chemical sprays, the soil itself acts as a line of defense.
- Supports long-term sustainability: By improving soil year after year, you’re building a foundation that future gardens will thrive in. Instead of working harder each season, your soil begins to work for you.
I noticed this in my own garden after a couple of years of consistent composting and mulching. Early on, I was battling aphids and powdery mildew every summer. As my soil improved, the problems didn’t disappear completely, but they became much less severe and the plants bounced back faster. Healthy soil creates resilience, and resilience is the key to a stress-free backyard garden.
The takeaway: when you take time to care for your soil you are building a strong ecosystem that will help your plants grow strong, resilient and pays you back season after season.
Common Soil Problems and How to Fix Them
Even with good practices, backyard garden soil isn’t always perfect. Don’t stress; most problems are common and have simple fixes.
Poor Drainage
If water pools on the surface or your plants look soggy, your soil might have too much clay or be compacted.
Fix: Add compost to improve structure, mix in coarse sand or perlite for aeration, or consider building raised beds.
Compacted Soil
Heavy foot traffic or over-tilling can crush the air pockets the roots need.
Fix: Avoid walking on garden beds, use a broadfork or garden fork to gently loosen soil, and add organic matter to restore structure.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Yellow leaves, poor growth, or weak stems often point to missing nutrients.
Fix: Test your soil to identify what’s lacking. Add compost for balance, and use targeted organic fertilizers (like bone meal for phosphorus or blood meal for nitrogen).
pH Imbalance
If your plants struggle despite regular care, soil pH could be the culprit.
Fix: Test your soil pH. Add lime to raise pH (less acidic) or sulfur/peat moss to lower pH (more acidic). Most vegetables thrive between 6.0 and 7.0.
In the near future, check out our post on Fixing Common Backyard Soil Problems Before Planting (on the way) to learn how you can address soil issues before they affect your plants.
Bringing It All Together
Soil is more than dirt under your feet; it’s the living foundation of your backyard garden. By testing, amending, and maintaining it, you give your plants the best chance to thrive.
Here’s the simple recipe for success:
- Test your soil to understand what you’re working with.
- Add compost and organic matter to keep nutrients flowing.
- Mulch to protect soil and conserve water.
- Rotate crops and use cover crops to prevent pest and disease build-up.
- Amend as needed to fix drainage, pH, or nutrient gaps.
Healthy soil doesn’t happen overnight, but every season of care makes it stronger. When you build good soil, you’re not just preparing for one harvest; you’re laying the groundwork for years of successful backyard gardening.
