Having a heap compost in your garden is extremely beneficial, but unfortunately not everyone has the space or the nose for it! Heap composts can also bring about unwanted critters, so we’ll show you 3 ways to improve garden soil without composting! They’re super cheap, super easy, and bring about a ton of nutrients to any type of soil!
3 Ways to Improve Garden Soil
#1. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are great because you can just add them directly to the soil. Here are ways to improve garden soil using coffee grounds:
- Coffee grounds act as a general fertilizer which adds organic matter, improves drainage, retains water, and aerates soil.
- Works well for acid loving plants.
- Will not affect pH level of the soil unless used in large amounts.
- Can also be used as mulch.
- If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can also use tea bags!
- If you see the coffee grounds start to look mouldy, don’t worry, this is normal, it’s all part of the breakdown process.
Keep those eggshells as they can do a lot of important work for your garden soil! Rinse them out and allow them to dry for a few days. Then, go ahead and crush them.
- Add crushed eggshells to garden soil to improve drainage and add calcium.
- Calcium promotes plant growth.
- Eggshells also help to prevent rot in tomatoes and squash.
- Eggshells also make excellent deterrents against slugs and snails.
#3. Banana Peels
Don’t throw out those banana peels – they can help your garden soil more than you think!
- Cut up your banana peels into very small pieces and place directly onto the soil.
- Banana peels will add a lot of fresh, organic matter to your soil which will result in well drained soil.
- Once the banana peels have broken down, they’ll spike your soil with a ton of nutrients including calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphates, potassium, and sodium.
- All of these nutrients help plants grow faster and healthier.