How to Improve Your Soil Health This Spring

How to Improve Garden Soil Health in Spring (UK Gardening Guide)

As days grow longer and gardens come back to life, spring is the best time to improve your soil health. Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful garden—whether you’re growing flowers, vegetables, shrubs, or trees.

At Chessington Garden Centre, we believe great gardening starts from the ground up. This expert spring guide explains how to improve garden soil, identify your soil type, and build healthier, more productive beds for the growing season ahead.

Why Soil Health Is Important

Healthy soil:

Supports strong root development
Retains moisture more efficiently
Improves nutrient availability
Encourages beneficial organisms and biodiversity

Poor soil can lead to weak growth, poor drainage, and nutrient deficiencies. Improving your soil in spring sets your garden up for success all year.

How to Identify Your Soil Type

Before improving your soil, it’s important to understand what you’re working with. Most UK gardens fall into one of these soil types:

Clay Soil

Heavy and slow-draining
Very fertile but prone to compaction

Sandy Soil

Free-draining and light
Warms quickly in spring but loses nutrients easily

Loamy Soil

Ideal balance of sand, silt, and clay
Retains moisture while draining well

You can test soil texture at home using a jar-and-water method, or use a soil pH and texture test kit for more accurate results.

How to Improve Soil Health in Spring: Step-by-Step

1. Clear Beds and Loosen Compacted Soil

Remove weeds, old mulch, and plant debris from beds. Gently loosen the soil with a fork to improve airflow and root penetration.

Top tip:
Avoid working soil when it’s very wet—if it clumps in your hand, wait until it dries slightly.

2. Add Organic Matter

Organic matter is the single most effective way to improve soil health.

Best options include:

Garden compost
Well-rotted manure
Leaf mould

Benefits by soil type:

Clay soil: improves drainage and structure
Sandy soil: increases water and nutrient retention
Loamy soil: maintains balanced conditions

Apply a 5–10cm layer and mix into the topsoil.

3. Mulch to Protect and Feed the Soil

Applying mulch in spring helps:

Retain moisture
Suppress weeds
Regulate soil temperature

Use organic mulches such as bark chips, straw, or compost. Apply around 5cm deep, keeping mulch away from plant stems.

4. Encourage Earthworms and Beneficial Microbes

Healthy soil is alive. Earthworms, fungi, and bacteria break down organic matter and make nutrients available to plants.

To support soil life:

Use organic or slow-release fertilisers
Avoid excessive chemical pesticides
Add mycorrhizal fungi when planting

5. Use Green Manures in Bare Areas

Green manures protect and improve unused soil. Plants such as clover, rye, or vetch:

Prevent nutrient loss
Suppress weeds
Add organic matter when dug in

They’re ideal for empty beds or raised planters in early spring.

6. Test and Adjust Soil pH

Most garden plants prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

If soil is too acidic: add garden lime
If soil is too alkaline: add sulphur or ericaceous compost

Spring is an ideal time to test and correct pH levels before planting.

Recommended Soil Improvers for Spring

At Chessington Garden Centre, we recommend:

Westland Farmyard Manure – Excellent for veg beds and borders
Melcourt Bark Mulch – Long-lasting weed suppression
Levington Organic Blend Soil Conditioner – Improves structure and fertility
Rootgrow Mycorrhizal Fungi – Boosts root development and nutrient uptake

Our team can help you choose the right products for your soil type and garden goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to improve soil in the UK?

Spring and autumn are the best times, with spring ideal for preparing beds before planting.

What improves soil health the fastest?

Adding organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure delivers the quickest improvement.

Can poor soil be fixed?

Yes. With regular organic additions, mulching, and reduced compaction, even poor soil can be transformed over time.

Expert Soil Advice from Chessington Garden Centre

Healthy soil is the heart of a thriving garden. By improving your soil this spring, you’ll enjoy stronger plants, better blooms, and more resilient growth throughout the year.

Visit Chessington Garden Centre for composts, mulches, tools, and friendly expert advice. Whether you’re starting fresh or improving existing beds, we’re here to help your garden thrive—right from the roots 🌱

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