Soils with good structure and those that not compacted help expand root systems. Roots hold soil in place to reduce erosion, a leading cause of water pollution. Soils that are not compacted allow for increased infiltration of rain and irrigation water.
Soil management is important to healthy plants and healthy ecosystems. Following are a few tips for improving residential landscape and garden soils and why it is important for root systems and plant health.
When reading about the growing needs of plants, it almost always states plants need a well-drained soil. One reason well-drained soils are important is because plants need oxygen along with water. A well- drained soil is also key to well established root systems.
The oxygen plants use in metabolic processes is taken up by roots from soil pores. If a soil is not well-drained, and remains saturated for too long after rainfall or irrigation, water displaces oxygen in soil pores and plants are negatively affected.
It is fine root hairs attached to larger roots that do most of the job of absorbing water and nutrients. Feeder roots are continually dying and being replaced. If soils remain low in oxygen for too long, these fine roots reduce or stop functioning and die at a more rapid rate.
Root growth and plant health can be increased by using soil management practices that improve drainage, especially after construction and when installing new lawns and landscape or garden beds. These include incorporating organic matter and using physical disruption of soil through spading, aerating or tillage to relieve compaction.
To reduce compaction, avoid driving, walking on, or working wet soils. Compaction compresses soil pores and restricts movement of oxygen and water into soil. Also avoid tilling soils too much or too frequently, especially with rototillers. This harms soil structure and can reduce drainage.
A key practice for improving soil drainage is incorporating organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. Organic matter improves soil structure by increasing soil aggregation which allows for more and varied pore sizes.
Soil aggregates are groups of mineral particles that bind together. Aggregate stability is the ability of soil aggregates to avoid disruption, such as by water. Soils with high organic matter content have greater aggregate stability.
When incorporating organic matter, the general rule of thumb for compost is to spread a two to three inch layer over soil and work it in about six inches deep with spading or tillage. Avoid over-tilling, especially with a rototiller. Using a rototiller too much or too often breaks down soil aggregates.
Another way to increase organic matter in annual flower beds or vegetable gardens is the use of green manures or cover crops. These are grains, grasses or legumes that are sowed in fall, then mowed or killed with glyphosate in early spring before they go to seed for a no-till system for gardens.
The soil is the foundation of root growth and plant health and part of the solution for reducing impaired water ecosystems. While we can select the best plants for our sites, if we plant them into compacted soils with poor drainage, we can’t expect them to perform well or best provide ecosystem services.
This article was reviewed by Sarah Browning
FAQs
Adding lots of organic matter such as compost, farm manure, or shredded leaves to clayey soil will allow it to drain more easily and hold the right amounts of water and air for better plant growth and increased biological activity. Adding sand can be tricky and typically is not recommended to be added to clay soil.
How do you prevent soil compaction? ›
A layer of plants or 2-3 inches of mulch will help prevent this type of compaction from occurring. Aerate the soil. A garden tool called a core aerator can be used to remove small plugs of soil in turf grass, alleviating compaction and preventing the accumulation of thatch. Amend the soil.
How do you manage soil compaction? ›
Avoid using machinery on wet soils, especially if prone to compaction, like clay, clay loams and silty clay loams. They are likely to lose structure and make existing compaction worse. You can use cover crops or companion crops after loosening the soil with machinery to help improve its structure.
How can I make my soil better for drainage? ›
A key practice for improving soil drainage is incorporating organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. Organic matter improves soil structure by increasing soil aggregation which allows for more and varied pore sizes. Soil aggregates are groups of mineral particles that bind together.
How do you remediate soil compaction? ›
How to fix compacted soils
- Amend your soil by adding organic matter, like compost. Decomposing organic matter helps build soil aggregates.
- Aerate the soil, which removes small plugs of soil to alleviate compaction and prevent thatch accumulation. ...
- Get planting! ...
- Not all weeds are bad!
Compaction is the densification of soil through mechanical means such as rolling, ramming, or vibration to reduce porosity and increase dry density. Laboratory compaction tests determine the optimum water content and maximum dry density for a soil through controlled compaction and varying water content.
How to break up compacted soil naturally? ›
Add organic matter
Organic matter seems to be a common theme amongst healthy soil articles, and that's because it does a lot for your garden. And yes, it can even help break up hard, compacted soil. However, organic matter isn't an overnight solution. In this instance, you should be thinking in the long term.
What is the main cause of soil compaction? ›
The main cause for soil compaction is putting weight on the soil, and this happens a lot in farmed lands, either as foot traffic, stock trampling or through the massive weight of agricultural machinery.
What are the best ways to compact soil? ›
Soil can be mechanically compacted by applying force with a roller, hoe or rammer. A roller looks like a drum aerator, minus the spikes.
How to treat poorly draining soil? ›
Adding organic matter to your soil will help it to absorb water more effectively. This can be done by adding compost, manure, or even just leaves and grass clippings. Aerating your soil will help to break up compacted soils and improve drainage. This can be done with a garden fork or an aeration machine.
To improve soil that drains too quickly, add organic matter.
How to prevent compaction of soil? ›
Protect soil from compaction.
- Avoid working garden soils when wet.
- Avoid bare soils. Cover soils with either vegetation or mulch.
- Create pathways and designated areas for walking and driving.
- Use walls, fences and mulch to protect gardens from foot and vehicular traffic.
Solving compaction problems
Instead, consider adding organic matter by using mulch or compost over the top of a flower bed or simply hand-spade it into the top 3 to 6 inches of soil. For a vegetable garden, put 2 inches of compost on the soil surface and till in and repeat for a total of 4 inches in a season.
Can soil compaction be reversed? ›
Once soil is compacted, is there anything that can be done to reverse the process? Many natural processes act to loosen up soil, such as freezing/thawing, particle sorting, earth worm activity, root penetration and the gradual buildup of organic matter.
Can soil compaction reversed? ›
Once soil is compacted, is there anything that can be done to reverse the process? Many natural processes act to loosen up soil, such as freezing/thawing, particle sorting, earth worm activity, root penetration and the gradual buildup of organic matter.
How to make dirt stay in place? ›
The best plant for erosion control is one that holds the soil in place. Many cover crops, such as rye and clover, create nets of roots that hold soil together and help reduce weeds. Ornamental ground cover, including ivy, creeping juniper and periwinkle, are also proven erosion control solutions.
How do you keep potting soil from compacting? ›
Soil additives: You can improve your soil's aeration by adding elements such as peat moss, sand, perlite, and vermiculite, which make the potting mix less dense. Adding stones to the bottom of your container can also help drainage, improving the soil's aeration and adding humidity.
