Gardening techniques for soil maintenance and fertilization

Maintaining vegetable garden beds does not require replacing all the soil every year. To regenerate soil in raised beds or containers, experts suggest using compost and mulch to replenish organic matter and nutrients.

According to ADEME, adding up to 20% compost to existing soil is an effective way to nourish the ground without a total replacement. INRAE notes that intensive soil turning should be avoided to prevent degradation of soil aggregates and loss of porosity. Effective maintenance includes applying mature compost in the autumn or late winter with light scratching, followed by maintaining a mulch layer of 3–5 cm.

While compost improves soil structure and long-term health, it serves a different purpose than fertilizer. Compost primarily nourishes the soil, whereas fertilizer provides immediate nutrients like nitrogen and potassium directly to the plants. Data from the University of Georgia indicates that a standard 10-10-10 fertilizer can be up to seven times more nutrient-dense than compost. Combining both methods—using compost as a soil amendment and fertilizer for rapid plant growth—is considered the most effective approach for demanding crops like tomatoes.