Improving your soil

Good soil is the foundation of a healthy waterwise garden. The healthier your soil, the more drought resistant your plants will be.

Improve the soil every time you dig

Sandy soil, commonly found in WA, has low water and nutrient holding capacity, which isn’t great for gardens. The ideal soil type for most exotic plant species is a loam, made up of clay, silt and sand. It slows water movement through the soil, allowing more absorption for plants. You can mimic a loamy style soil and enrich your garden by:

• Adding clays to improve water and nutrient holding capacity.
• Adding compost for healthy plant growth. Animal manure, worm farm residue, bagged soil improver and soil conditioners are good sources.

The best time to improve soil is before you plant a new garden, either in autumn or spring. If planting a new garden, make sure the organic matter is thoroughly mixed through the top 30cm of soil for optimal results. If improving soil to an established garden bed, apply improver to the surface area and lightly mix it into the soil with a hoe or rake and hand water well.

Follow the tips below to create a healthier garden from the root up.

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Mulch is like sunscreen for your soil

Applying mulch to your garden can greatly reduce evaporation loss, improve the soil, reduce weed growth and improve the appearance of your garden. Applying a generous amount of waterwise mulch can help you save up to 20% of water in the garden.

Tips for mulching your garden

To help your garden thrive:

• Apply between 5–10cm of good waterwise mulch across the surface of the soil.
• Choose a chunky coarse mulch, which is better for water saving over soft, fine mulches like straw and lucerne.
• Choose waterwise approved products displaying the Waterwise and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols.

For more tips on mulching watch this video:

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Wetting agents do wonders for your soil

Sandy soils are known to be water repellent (hydrophobic), making it a challenge to maintain a healthy garden in WA. The simplest way to improve the absorption of water in your soil and help it spread more evenly throughout, is to add a wetting agent.

When should I apply wetting agents?

The best time to apply a soil improver with a wetting agent is at the start of winter, in early summer and as recommended by the manufacturer. Always water in wetting agents until they foam. This means they are activated and doing their job.

Watch this video to learn more about how wetting agents can improve your soil profile:

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Soil improvement in the regions

Soil types across WA vary greatly. To keep your soil healthy it's important to understand the soil characteristics that might apply to your region. While some local native species of plants will grow in natural soil without any soil improvement, all still benefit from it, especially during the establishment phase. Planting most exotic species in the regions will require soil improvement before planting.