This seasonal plan assumes you’re starting with average-to-poor soil on a small acreage or urban backyard (from 50m² up to half an acre), and aims to turn it into a thriving, food-productive space by the end of 12 months.
Late Summer to Early Autumn (Feb–April)
Goal: Assess your soil and lay the groundwork for biological activity and moisture retention.
Tasks:
- Conduct a soil test: pH, texture (squeeze test), and available nutrients (basic test kits or send to lab).
- Assess drainage: Dig a 30cm hole and fill it with water. If it drains in under 4 hours, you have sandy soil. If it sits, you may need organic matter or sand to improve clay.
- Sheet mulch:
- Mow or scalp grass close to the ground.
- Layer cardboard (no glossy print), 2–5cm compost, and 5–10cm straw mulch.
- Water thoroughly after each layer.
- Sow green manure crops before temperatures drop (e.g. oats, field peas, vetch for cool climates; cowpeas, millet, mung beans for warm zones).
- Mark zones for future garden beds, orchard areas, composting bays, and irrigation.
Estimated Cost:
- Soil test (basic): $60–$100
- Green manure seeds: $10–$30 per 50m²
- Straw mulch: $50–$150 depending on coverage
- Compost: DIY or $80/m³
Winter (May–July)
Goal: Feed the soil microbes and protect the structure from heavy rains.
Tasks:
- Let green manure grow – do not mow or dig it in yet.
- Apply compost tea or worm juice:
- Every 2–3 weeks.
- Brew with a bubbler for 24–48 hours if DIY.
- Build compost bays or bins for upcoming spring composting.
- Start or expand a worm farm to prepare a steady supply of castings.
- Add leaf litter and manure to mulch areas to promote fungal activity.
DIY Note:
- A compost tea brewer can be built with a $20 aquarium pump and 20L bucket.
- Worm juice should be diluted at 1:10 before applying.
Estimated Cost:
- Worm farm: $120–$180
- Compost tea brewer (DIY): ~$40
- Manure (aged, bagged): $5–$8 per bag
Spring (Aug–Oct)
Goal: Enrich soil with nutrients and begin planting hardy, shallow-rooted crops.
Tasks:
- Chop & drop green manure before it sets seed. Leave it on the soil surface.
- Top-dress with:
- 2cm compost
- Aged chicken or cow manure
- Rock dust (basalt, zeolite) and trace mineral mix
- Double dig beds only if necessary (compacted soil). Otherwise, broadfork or garden fork to loosen.
- Install irrigation lines if planting at scale (drip preferred).
- Begin planting:
- Lettuce, spinach, herbs, bush beans, radish, beetroot
- Test one or two fruit tree species suited to your region
Estimated Cost:
- Rock dust & minerals: $60–$90
- Manure/compost: $100–$250 depending on area
- Broadfork: $150–$300 (one-time purchase)
- Drip system: ~$150 per 100m² (DIY kits)
Summer (Nov–Jan)
Goal: Maintain soil health under heat stress and prepare rotations.
Tasks:
- Mulch heavily around plants (sugarcane, straw, or woodchip).
- Apply seaweed or fish emulsion fortnightly to support stressed crops.
- Trial dynamic accumulators like comfrey and lucerne to mine nutrients from subsoil.
- Crop rotation:
- If beans grew in spring, follow with leafy greens.
- Avoid repeat plantings of the same family (e.g. tomato > capsicum).
- Solarise or fallow empty beds by covering with clear plastic for 4–6 weeks to kill pathogens/weeds.
- Plan your autumn cover crops based on what worked and failed.
Estimated Cost:
- Organic liquid feeds: $20–$50
- Mulch top-ups: $100–$200
- Shadecloth or polytunnel (optional): $80–$200
What You’ll Achieve by Month 12:
- Soil teeming with worms and beneficial fungi
- Loamier, darker texture with improved moisture retention
- A functioning compost system
- At least 3–4 harvests of vegetables or herbs
- A clearer understanding of your property’s growing patterns
Interested to get more details on what soil type you might have on your land or a detailed breakdown of tried and tested ways how to fix your soil? Follow the links.
