Healthy Soil Tips

Adding organic matter such as mulch or compost can increase your soil's ability to absorb and store water.  While this is important for the health and well- being of your landscape, it can also reduce your water usage.

Soil in the greater Portland region is mostly clay or sandy. Both can be challenging. Clay soil is dense which means its’ particles are packed close together. This makes it absorb water slowly. It also takes longer for water to leave clay soil. If you add too much water too fast to clay soil, it will run off. Sandy soil is the opposite. Its’ particles are spaced further apart. This means that it is not good at holding onto water or nutrients well. 

Read this Oregonian article for more information on how to figure out what type of soil you have in your garden. This will help you better understand how to amend your soil with mulch or compost.

Soil Amendments

No matter what type of soil you have, it is a good idea to amend it with mulch or compost. Doing this will help increase your soil’s ability to absorb and store water.  Taking this step will help reduce your water use. It will also bring nutrients to your plants and help keep weeds from growing in your landscape. 

Mulches come in two forms: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches (e.g. aged manure, bark chips, wood chips) enhance the soil's ability to store water, and are preferred over inorganic mulches. This is because inorganic mulches (e.g. rock, concrete, wood, gravel) can re–radiate the sun’s heat and can lead to greater water needs for surrounding plants.

Organic mulches cover and cool the soil. They also minimize evaporation, soil erosion, and weed growth. If the mulch is too deep, water can have a difficult time reaching the plant roots, so only add about 3 inches. Consult your local nursery about the best type of mulch for your yard and plants. 

Compost is nutrient-rich materials from decomposed organic waste. Creating it is as easy as trading in your garbage can or disposal for a composting bin! You can also compost plant debris from your garden such as grass clippings or fall leaves. Then add your homemade compost to your soil.

You can add a layer on top of the soil of plants that are already in your garden, or you can add it to your soil when putting in new plants. The compost will provide nutrients for your plants and help your soil hod onto water better. This which reduces the need to water and fertilize.