There is one garden habit I only started using fairly recently.
For years, I thought pulling plants out by the roots was the right way to clean up my vegetable garden. A neat, empty bed felt productive — like I was finishing the season properly.
But what I didn’t realize was that in trying to make the garden look tidy, I was actually undoing some of the best work my soil had done all season.
As it turns out, that tidy look can actually work against your soil.
Now, instead of pulling plants out, I just snip them off right at soil level and leave the roots in the ground. It feels a little strange at first, but those roots do so much good once you leave them alone.
As they break down, they create tiny air pockets in the soil, help water soak in better, and feed earthworms and other beneficial soil life. Even better, they slowly return nutrients right where future plants will need them. It’s like an organic slow-release fertilizer for your soil.
I still pull plants if there’s disease or a pest issue, but most of the time, I let the roots stay put and do their thing.
It’s a small change, but it’s one of those habits that really adds up over time — and your soil will thank you for it.
Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful vegetable garden — and it’s something most gardeners were never taught.
I didn’t always understand soil health — and I definitely didn’t learn it from labels at the garden center.
That’s why I created a full soil health module inside my No Fuss Garden Course. I break down what really matters (and what doesn’t), so you can stop guessing and start growing with confidence.
👉 Learn more about the No Fuss Garden Course here
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