Adequate soil organic matter is essential for important microorganisms which are beneficial to overall plant and soil health. Organic matter should be considered as an additive in most garden soils. Manure is a good source of organic matter, but it should be well rotted. If not, it should be rototilled or spaded in deeply. Avoid manure that contains a great deal of straw.
Peat moss is expensive but is a good source of organic matter.
Compost is another good source of organic matter and is not expensive. It is also a good way to get rid of leaves and other plant material. It should be well rotted before it is used on the garden. Do Not compost diseased vegetables because the pile can become a source of disease inoculum for your garden in the future. Composting is very simple - contact our office for information on starting a compost pile.