How healthy is your soil?
Try out these simple soil tests to check on the health of your soil
Test 1: How Sponge-Like Is Your Soil? (The Drainage Test)
Healthy soil acts like sponge – soaking up water when it rains and holding onto moisture for plants. Let’s see how well your soil drains!
Video Demonstration
Watch this video to see the test in action
You’ll Need:
✔ 1 mallet
✔ 1 piece of drainpipe
✔ 1 wooden block (to protect the pipe while hammering)
✔ A container of water (about 1 litre / 2 pints)
✔ A timer (your phone will work!)
Step-by-Step:
1. Pick a spot in your garden to test.
2. Hammer the pipe halfway into the soil (place the wood on top to avoid damaging the pipe).
3. Fill the pipe to the top with water.
4. Start your timer immediately.
5. Record how long it takes for all the water to drain away.
6. Repeat in different spots to compare results.
What Does It Mean?
✅ Good drainage (2–5 minutes): Your soil is healthy and sponge-like! It absorbs water well and retains moisture.
❌ Slow drainage (longer than 5 minutes): Your soil is compacted. Water runs off instead of soaking in, which can lead to drought stress or flooding.
How to Fix Compacted Soil:
🌱 Skip the digging! Instead, add compost or mulch on top—let worms and microbes work it into the soil naturally.
🌱 Avoid heavy tilling, which destroys soil structure over time. A light hoeing is better for weeds.
🌱 Why no digging? Digging might loosen soil temporarily, but it also kills helpful microbes and leads to re-compaction. Let nature do the work!
Test 2: How Healthy Is My Soil? (The Slake Test)
This test reveals how well your soil holds together—key for plant resilience in droughts and floods.
You’ll Need:
✔ 2 pieces of wire mesh (from your kit)
✔ 2 clear jars or containers
✔ 1 palm-sized soil clump from your garden
✔ 1 palm-sized clump from an undisturbed area (like under a hedge)
Step-by-Step:
1. Fill both jars with water.
2. Bend the wire mesh into a small “hammock” and submerge it near the top of each jar.
3. Place a soil clump in each hammock at the same time.
4. Observe: Does the soil hold together or crumble?
What Does It Mean?
✅ Stays intact, water stays clear: Your soil is rich in organic matter and holds moisture well—great for plants!
❌ Falls apart, water turns muddy: Your soil lacks structure and organic matter, making it prone to erosion and drought.
How to Improve Your Soil:
🍂 Add organic matter (compost, leaf mold, or mulch) to help bind soil particles.
🔄 Avoid over-tilling, which breaks down soil structure.
Test 3: How Many Worms Live in My Soil? (The Worm Count)
Earthworms = healthy soil! They aerate the ground, improve drainage, and recycle nutrients.
Best Time to Test:
After rain in spring or autumn (worms are near the surface when the soil is moist and warm).
You’ll Need:
✔ A spade
✔ A plant pot (to collect worms)
✔ A tray or tarp (to sort soil)
Step-by-Step:
1. Dig a cube of soil (about 1 spade-width wide and deep).
2. Place it on a tray/tarp and break it apart gently.
3. Pick out every worm and count them as you go.
4. Return the soil and worms to your garden.
5. Repeat in different spots to compare.
What Does It Mean?
✅ 20+ worms: Excellent! Your soil is rich in organic matter and well-aerated.
❌ Few or no worms: Your soil may need more organic matter and less disturbance.
How to Attract More Worms:
🍁 Add compost or mulch—worms love organic food!
🚜 Reduce digging to keep their tunnels intact.
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Final Tip: Healthy soil is alive! The more you nurture it with organic matter and gentle care, the better it will support your plants. Happy testing! 🌱
The Compost Connection 