How to Amend Bad Soil

Obtain a soil analysis from your local university extension. A soil analysis will give you specific details about your soil's pH, texture and nutrient levels. It will also provide instructions about how to amend your soil if needed. You will need about six to eight samples from each area of your lawn or garden. Make sure that you use clean equipment to get your samples, and mix them all together in a large plastic bucket.

Adjust your soil pH in accordance with the results of the soil test. To lower soil pH, use sphagnum peat for small gardens, or a variety of sulfur, such as elemental or granular sulfur. To increase soil pH, use liming materials, such as hydrated lime, or wood ash. As noted by the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture, it can take some time to adjust soil pH, so start amending your soil several months before the planting season.

Apply fertilizer to the soil if your soil test indicates low nutrient levels. Examples of fertilizers include ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, urea and potassium chloride. Always follow manufacturers directions carefully to avoid over-application and ensure safety.

Incorporate organic matter — such as compost, manure, biosolids, sludge and peat moss — into your soil to improve the texture and water retention.

Use cover crops to protect your garden or lawn from soil erosion, compaction, mineral leaching, weeds and runoff. Examples of common cover crops are annual ryegrass, winter rye, winter wheat, oats, white clover, sweet clover, hairy vetch and buckwheat. Cover crops are also called green manure because you integrate them into the soil to provide organic matter for the next growing season.