How can you tell if you need to replace your garden soil?

A while back we had a freeze and some of the plants in the garden died. Later in the year after the freeze some other plants had a hard time staying healthy and eventually died. I am starting to wonder if i need to replace the soil. Do i need to dig up the entire garden and replace everything? Or can I just put down topsoil?

How can you tell if you need to replace your garden soil?
Everything is great in your garden. All you have to do is plow everything under and replant fresh again. Make sure you rotate crops and not grow the same crop in the same spot each year.You can add leaves, mulch and other vegetation to the garden before plowing.
Reply:There could be many reasons for plants dieing, were the plants suitable for the place? sun/ shade, etc? You should find out what type of soil it is, is it clay like- does it dry hard and crack in warm weather? or is it more sandy? i would find these things out first before you decide to do anything drastic.


it may be simply a case of selecting plants that will do well in the soil you have. There are many bog standard plants that will do well in poor soil.
Reply:! plants that cant stand frost and cold, will die. that has nothing to do with the soil! soil should just be fine! plant plants that are frost free, and which grows better in your area!
Reply:Freezing temperatures and soil quality are unrelated. Plant things that are more hardy, add some compost and you will be fine.
Reply:unless some sort of poison like gasoline has been pour on your soil, there's really never a reason to 'replace' soil... just add to it.... if it's kinda used up from a lot of plants over a lot of years, then the addition of well aged manure and compost will perk it right back up!!.... start this spring , after you see what's coming back, by using compost around existing plants and dig in some where you can..... just lightly turn it into the rest of the soil... the worms will take care of the rest....





mulch added around the plants will help the roots stay cool in summer, moist in the dry times and will help protect them from freezes, so look into that as well.....
Reply:All plants die back after a freeze. It's not the soil! If the plants were annuals, then they're done for. If they're perennials then they'll come back in the spring.

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