Protecting your soil’s structure is one of the simplest and most important things you can do for a healthy, productive garden!
It's not a good idea to walk on your garden soil or raised beds if you can help it because doing so compacts the soil, which negatively affects plant health and growth. Here’s why...
Soil Compaction
What to Do Instead
Soil Compaction
- Stepping on soil compresses the particles tightly together.
- This reduces air pockets, making it hard for roots to breathe and for water to drain properly.
- Compacted soil makes it harder for roots to spread, access nutrients, and grow deeply.
- Plants become stunted and more vulnerable to stress.
- Earthworms and beneficial microbes thrive in loose, undisturbed soil.
- Compaction crushes their tunnels and disrupts natural soil ecosystems.
- Hard-packed soil can cause water to pool on the surface or run off instead of soaking in.
What to Do Instead
- Use defined pathways between rows or beds.
- Build raised beds so you can easily access them from all sides (keep them no more than 4 feet feet wide for easy reach).
- Use stepping stones or even a spare two by four or two if you must step in garden areas (see photo above).