Photo courtesy of singhajaykr25 at MorgueFile.com.
Soil compaction is one of the chief enemies of healthy soil, largely because it reduces the void spaces within the soil that help transport air, water, and minerals, and make it difficult for creatures like earthworms (which naturally aerate the soil) to travel to and fro. One way to actively decrease the amount of compaction in your garden without reaching for the lawn aerating shoes is to create permanent footpaths in and around your planting beds, so that you have designated areas for foot traffic and permanent areas that are never walked on. Wood chips, gravel, and similar permeable materials offer excellent footing for the paths, and the wood chips will actually add nutrients to the soil as they decay.
Photo courtesy of Zombie37 at Flickr.com.
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