Healthy soil for healthy plants: How to help your soil thrive

Achieving and maintaining a healthy soil is the most important aspect when growing food organically. A healthy soil brings higher yields and fewer pests and diseases, while also reducing the need for watering and weeding.

A healthy soil is a soil full of life, most of which we need a microscope to see. In this session, we will look at the life that teams in healthy soils and explore what might disrupt it if we garden without putting the needs of the soil first. We will discuss soil texture and structure in relation to soil life, and some of the ways in which a gardener can easily support their soil’s health – with a particular focus on using green manures, mulching, composting methods and compost uses.