How Smart Gardeners Pick Plants That Improve Soil Quality

You may find that you don’t have the time or tools to amend the soil for all of the plants you would like to grow. That’s okay because there are other options that still include a garden.

Certain plants don’t just survive in challenging soil—they thrive, adapting to poor conditions while enhancing the soil for future growth. From cover crops that act as nature’s green manure to nutrient-fixing plants that enrich the soil, there are countless ways to let your garden work for you. 

Every garden has its own unique soil type or texture, whether it’s sandy, clay-heavy, silty, or a well-balanced loam. Each type of soil has specific characteristics that influence how plants grow—sandy soils drain quickly but struggle to retain nutrients, while clay soils hold moisture but can become compacted and suffocate roots. The good news is that with the diversity of plants available, there are species that naturally thrive in each type of soil. 

By understanding your soil’s unique properties and matching it with the right plants, you can create a thriving garden while improving the quality and structure of your soil over time.

Sandy soil has the benefit of being easy for root vegetables to push through. Carrots, radishes, and garlic like to grow in more sandy soils. 

Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme are also great choices for growing in sandy soil. 

You could also plant blanket flowers, zinnia, or a buddleia bush in this type of soil for some added color!

For clay soil, you will want to choose plants with shallow roots that don’t mind being a little bit wet since clay soils don’t drain well.

You could grow lettuce, broccoli, and beans for some yummy veggies. 

There are plenty of flowers that thrive in clay soil, such as coreopsis, echinacea, aster, and daylilies.

Acidic soil can be perfect for some plants. Blueberries, raspberries, parsley, potatoes, azaleas, and hydrangeas can tolerate more acidic soil with a lower pH between 4.0 and 6.0.

Arugula, cabbage, chives, cilantro, lettuce, lilacs, and buddleia bushes can be grown in soil with a moderately alkaline pH of up to 7.5.

Whenever your garden or beds aren’t in use, add some cover crops to protect your soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and foster a healthy soil microbiome. Cover crops improve soil over time and can be selected for specific needs. 

Legumes like clover or winter peas can fix nitrogen for depleted soils. These are excellent for planting in sandy soil or after a crop of tomatoes. 

To improve clay soil, plant Daikon Driller radishes to help break up the soil for future plantings.

Getting some plants in your garden, no matter what your soil conditions, will truly help you over time. Leaving the plant residues in your garden once the season has finished will add organic matter to your soil, improving structure as well as water and nutrient-holding capacity.

Having living roots will stimulate microorganisms and help cycle nutrients through your soil. The more types of plants you’re able to find to fit your garden, the more benefits your soil will see in the coming years!