What Are Some Indicators of Soil Health?

Gardening time is right around the corner and before you plant, its important to pick a planting area with healthy soil that will not only support, but also to help your garden thrive!

Above is a picture of two soil samples from our property: The Left-Hand Side sample of soil is from along our black-top driveway. The Right-Hand Side sample of soil is from an old raised garden bed. Both areas get the same amount of sunlight and precipitation.

Based on our 5 senses, how can we judge and determine which soil area is more ideal for planting and supporting our potential garden? The Left-Hand Side sample of soil is a paler shade of brown, with no detectable odor. The soil from that area is greatly compacted from being right next to the driveway. The lighter shade of brown may indicate there is less organic matter present in the soil to support plants beyond grass. The fact that there is no odor may also indicate a lack of diverse biology present in this area of soil. The Right-Hand Side sample of soil is a rich, dark-chocolate brown color and has a fresh, earthy odor- thus indicating that this sample likely has more organic matter and healthy soil biology present to support garden plants beyond grass.