How to Buy Soil Amendments

Improve heavy (clay) or sandy soil with organic material such as compost. Amendments can help soil drain more effectively or retain water better, but don't provide as many nutrients as fertilizer does.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get soil amendments for a flower or vegetable garden before planting in spring, or anytime you're doing much planting.

2. Choose from a local array of amendments, such as ground bark, rice hulls and mushroom compost. A good all-purpose choice is composted manure, which consists of manure and wood chips, wood shavings or sawdust.

3. Before planting a bed, add a 2- or 3-inch (5 to 7.5 cm) layer of soil amendment, and dig it in to a depth of 6 inches (15 cm).

4. For small areas of 100 square feet or so (9 square meters), buy amendments by the bag, typically 1 to 1.5 cubic feet (.03 to .04 cubic m). A bag this size will cover 18 square feet (1.7 square meters) to a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm). For larger areas, buy in bulk at a soil, garden or building supply center. You can have the supplier deliver bulk material, or pick it up yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Products sold as potting mixes are not intended for use as soil amendments. Fill containers directly from the bag for growing bulbs, flowers and other plants.
• Choose composted material rather than fresh manure to guard against diseases that may be passed to humans through contact with animal feces.