Soil Conservation in the Garden (5021)

Soil is a valuable natural resource that needs to be protected and improved by all home gardeners. Our success as gardeners depends in large part on the health of our soil. Rainfall carries unprotected soil into storm drains and small streams. Soil erosion is damaging to waterways and wildlife and occurs in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

To prevent erosion:
- maintain adequate borders around garden beds
- plant ground covers in areas where turf won't grow
- cover bare soil with mulches or cover crops (especially during the winter months)
- maintain permanent covers on sloped areas of the landscape
- fertilize and lime according to soil test recommendations
- recycle nutrients by leaving grass clippings on the lawn and incorporating compost and other organic materials into garden soil

Remember, it takes years to build one inch of topsoil but only minutes to lose it in a thunderstorm.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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