There really is such a thing as “soil health,” although I wouldn’t recommend bringing a shovel of dirt to your doctor.
But if you decide to give your soil a checkup, here are some signs of a healthy soil:
- The soil is crumbly and loose, not hard.
- The soil contains a lot of organic matter (dead plant and animal material). Darker soil color usually means it has more organic matter.
- Water and plant roots can move easily through the soil.
- The soil contains gobs of earthworms and other critters.
- There are no signs that “erosion” has dug into the soil. Erosion is when water or wind carries away soil particles.
Erosion has eaten away at this soil. It’s not a healthy sign.
Photo: USDA NRCS