6 Tips for Healthy Soil

​2018 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener State Conference note highlights from Donna Amidon, MGV

Session: Tiny but Mighty: How Soil Bugs, Worms, and Microbes Influence Plant Health. Anne Sawyer, PhD (U of M Extension Educator)
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6 Tips for maintaining healthy soil ecosystem:

1. Feed the soil with organic matter.  Compost has prebiotics which feed probiotics.  The organic matter is carbon rich plus has nitrogen.
2. Provide air and water to the soil.  Stop compacting the soil by walking on it, especially when it is wet.  Establish walking areas in the garden so you only compact certain areas where you will not be planting.  Avoid excessive tilling because that breaks up the fungi aggregates which are beneficial.
3. Keep your soil covered to decrease soil displacement and to help avoid spreading some diseases to plants such as septoria leaf spot, blight, and other fungus.
4. Rotate crops each year.  This deprives pathogens of their favorite “food” and allows different plants to access different nutrients in the soil.
5. Use caution with chemicals.
6. Do a soil test to find out about your soil texture, the pH index, how much organic matter, potassium and phosphorus are in your soil. It also recommends what you may need to add to your soil.

​For more info on soil testing go to:  
​UW Soil Lab - Lawn & Garden Testing Information