The Simple Fix Your Rocky Soil Needs To Help Your Garden Thrive

There's good news and bad news about fixing rocky soil. The good news is that adding organic matter on top of your rocky soil will enable you to create a thriving garden. The bad news is that you will need to remove the larger, surface rocks first, which is no easy task (though you might enjoy the chore more if you have a clever plan for repurposing the rocks in your garden or yard). So why is it a good idea to improve rocky soil? While it's not impossible to grow plants in rocky soil, it's a tough job to dig and till around large rocks. Worse, the presence of rocks may point to inferior soil quality. Rocks can block roots from accessing needed nutrients, thereby depriving plants.

After removing large rocks from your rocky garden plot, you'll want to prep your soil for successful planting. First, loosen the soil with a rake, shovel, or tilling tool. Now the magic ingredient: integrate 6 inches of organic material (whether compost, aged manure, or mulch) into the existing soil.

Fixing garden issues like rocky soil is all about creating healthy growing conditions. Carbon, the key component in organic matter, plays a huge role in building robust soil by supporting soil structure and stability, which in turn enables plants to access and hold air, water, and nutrients. Carbon also boosts the microbial activity that helps plants absorb nutrients. Adding carbon-rich materials to your rocky soil will also reduce soil erosion and improve overall durability.

Once you've transformed your rocky garden plot into a healthy bed teeming with organic goodness, you'll want to choose the best plants for your rocky soil. After you've put your plants in, consider adding even more organic material with a mulch layer on top. Be aware that the beneficial properties of organic matter decline over time, so continue to add this powerful soil amendment at least annually.