A secret to improving soil of all types? Adding ORGANIC MATTER Okay so what is that exactly? Soil organic matter it’s made up of living, dead, and decomposing plants, microorganisms, and even decaying animals (weird, I know!) Materials like dried up leaves, banana peels, grass clippings, hay, composting woodchips are all full of microbial life (there can be a billion microorganisms in a teaspoon of compost or soil) (source: University of Maryland extension) Adding organic matter to your soil imp