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In most gardens the soil is fertile to some degree. Plants will grow in desert conditions, bogs, on mountainsides with little soil at all, and in deep pits of manure. Soil fertility is relative to the type of plants that you wish to grow, and growing pineapples successfully in the desert is as unlikely as trying to grow cactus on the edge of a pond. There are some basic steps you can take to improve your soil's overall quality, which will increase the range of plants that you can grow successfully in your garden.

The first thing to establish is the content of your soil. For new housing developments, top soil is often brought in from a completely different area, so it may not be the same as a friend's on the other side of town. It may also not be the same as the natural soil and sub soil of your local area. You will need to discover the clay, sand, chalk, and composted vegetation balance of your soil, as well as the acidity level. The first is relatively easy to do by sight. Observe how your soil reacts to water and heat; when it rains, if your soil quickly becomes waterlogged and sticks to your boots, it will have a high clay content. This can be confirmed if the soil dries out quickly and bakes hard on hot weather, with the surface developing cracks. A chalky soil will have a pale colour, and when dry will become prone to wind erosion. Soil with a good portion of composted plant matter will be crumbly (often called friable), hold water well in hot weather and drain well in wet weather. This is the ideal that you are aiming to achieve.

Clay soils need substance added to them to improve the drainage and to form minute air pockets so that plants can obtain more nutrients through their roots. Digging in plenty of composted plant matter is the ideal solution, along with some sharp sand. For lawns on clay soil, take a garden fork and push the prongs down into the soil when it is reasonably soft but not waterlogged, and wiggle the fork to create a row of small deep holes. Then take some sharp sand and brush it into the holes. Repeat this all across your lawn.

Chalk and sandy soils also need plenty of organic matter added to them to stabilise the soil. In addition to this, making good use of a thick organic mulch will help a chalk or sandy soil retain moisture in dry periods, and prevent wind erosion. A layer of mulch at least 6 inches (15cm) deep is recommended, and deeper is better.

To establish the acidity of your soil, you will need to test the pH level. To

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