Compost, peat moss, manures, cover crops, and leaf mold are all considered organic matter, because they contain living and/or once-living organisms. Adding organic matter to the soil offers a nutrient bank, supplying and storing nutrients, and greatly improves the structure. For quick results, it is best to add organic matter that is already decomposed, such as compost. Amending the soil with organic matter is relatively simple – apply, mix and harvest the benefits.

Understanding the components of healthy soils, as indicated on the chart on this page, helps the gardener establish overall garden health. The analysis of a healthy soil sample is fifty percent mass and fifty percent pore space. Water (1) and air (2) comprise pore space, while mineral matter (3) and organic matter (4) comprise mass. Organic matter comprises about five percent of the total components found in the healthiest soils. Although this is a relatively small percentage, the impact on overall garden health is priceless to gardeners.

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