Watering plants is one cure, but also mix plenty of organic matter into the soil. The sponge-like nature of the organic matter helps holds moisture. With aeration and water taken care of, now consider your soil's fertility. Soils must supply plants with 12 essential nutrients, so test your soil with a home kit or send a sample out to a laboratory to see what is needed. Before fertilizing, make sure soil acidity is in the correct range, or else plants will not be able to use nutrients.
Most garden plants thrive best in slightly acidic soils.
The three nutrients needed in greatest amounts by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The organic matter that you added for aeration and water-holding also supplies nutrients, perhaps enough so that no additional fertilizer is needed. With aeration, moisture, and nutrients, your soil is ready for almost any plant, from a marigold to a forsythia to a maple. This article first appeared March 24, 2001. We welcome your feedback.