I'm wondering whether I should take out the old soil in my garden when I add compost each year, or can I just keep stacking it on top? I want to make sure I'm improving my soil effectively without causing any issues.
5 Answers
I'd say keep it all in there! Removing soil in a garden typically doesn't help. Even if you've faced issues like disease, usually it's better to focus on minimizing those problems rather than removing what's already there. Just add compost for nutrients and microorganisms instead.
You really don't need to remove old soil—just keep stacking it! Unless you're dealing with serious problems like heavy root systems, rocks, or issues with drainage or pH, it's better to just add your compost. This way, you maintain the ecosystem you've got going on, especially for perennial plants.
Totally agree, stack it! The soil life under there is doing its thing, and they’ll pull down the new compost, which makes the soil structure even better.
Thanks everyone for the great advice! I'm pretty new to gardening and was confused by all the different info online. Really appreciate your help!
Stack it up! Let nature work its magic—worms and microbes will help incorporate the new compost into the existing soil nicely.