Avoid soil compaction by avoiding unnecessary tilling and walking on garden beds. Consider contructing raised beds. The pH level of your soil indicates its relative acidity or alkalinity. Most essential plant nutrients are soluble at pH levels of 6.5 to 6.8, which is why most plants grow best in this range. If the pH of your soil is much higher or lower, soil nutrients start to become chemically bound to the soil particles, which makes them unavailable to your plants.
Plant health suffers because the roots are unable to absorb the nutrients they require.
To improve the fertility of your soil, you need to get the pH of your soil within the 6.5 to 6.8 range. You can t, and shouldn t try, to change the pH of your soil overnight. Instead, gradually alter it over one or two growing seasons and then maintain it every year thereafter. Liberal applications of organic matter is a good idea too, because it helps to moderate pH imbalances. Correcting soils that are too acidic.