Water Conservation
Natural Yard Care
Building Healthy Soil – in the spring and fall
Healthy soil absorbs water easily, drains well, and retains moisture. Which means you don’t have to run the sprinkler as often to keep your landscape looking vibrant and beautiful. The best way to improve soil health is to add the right amount of compost or organic matter (like leaves or aged sawdust) to your garden or lawn before planting.
Mix in compost before:
- Planting lawns, perennials, trees, and shrubs
- Replanting annual beds every year (like a food garden or petunia patch)
- Replanting after dividing perennials
- Repotting container plants
It is important to amend the entire planting bed—not just small holes for each plant. Thoroughly mixing compost deep into the soil helps provide water, air, and nutrients to plant roots. Use a rototill to mix compost into large areas where digging isn’t practical.
Recommended amount of compost for every 100 square feet of planting area
Clay soils (drain poorly, feel sticky when wet) | Sandy soils (drain easily, will not form a ball when squeezed in your hand) | |
Established gardens: | Mix in 8 cubic feet (or a 1-inch layer) 10 inches into the soil. | Mix in 16 cubic feet (or a 2-inch layer) 10 inches down into the soil. |
New gardens: | Mix in 16 cubic feet (or a 2-inch layer) 10 inches into the soil. | Mix in 24 cubic feet (or a 3-inch layer) 10 inches into the soil. |
New lawns: | Mix in 8 cubic feet (or a 1-inch layer) 6 inches into the soil. | Mix 12 cubic feet (or a 1.5-inch layer) 6 inches into the soil. |
Trees and shrubs: | When planting individual trees and shrubs in lawns or existing beds, amend an area at least 3 feet wide, or at least 2 to 3 times as wide as root balls over 12 inches in diameter. | |
Have a question about your Northwest lawn or garden? Contact the Garden Hotline for free, expert advice!