Soil Nutrients

• Adding soil nutrients to the topsoil is one of the most important parts of having healthy plants grow. Once to soil has been lain down, nitrogen supplements can be added to nourish stems and foliage, phosphorous helps sustain new roots and flowers, while the addition of potassium promotes food production within the soil itself.
  
  

pH of Soil

• The pH of the soil allows plant roots to absorb these critical nutrients. The basic pH levels vary around 7.0: 7.0 is neutral, above 7.0 is alkaline and below 7.0 is acidic. Flower or vegetable gardens thrive best somewhere between a 6.0 and 7.0 pH level, which is slightly acidic. The pH level can be adjusted with lime to raise the level and with sulphur to lower it.
  
  

Water, Sunlight and Food

• Once the plants begin to grow and the soil is receiving regular nutrients with a stable pH, then the focus should be on the plants themselves. Make sure plants are watered regularly but not overwatered, and that they are receiving direct sunlight but not too much heat. Fertilizers and plant nutrients can be spread around the plants as well, scattered amidst the soil, giving the plants even more food to make them grow bigger and quicker.