Just Good Soil Regenerative Gardening Principles: Maximize Plant Diversity

This is one area gardeners have it easier than farmers because many of us already plant mixed species in our gardens, where farmers typically plant one at a time. Intercropping involves alternating rows with different species in the same production area. Instead of planting just beans in one area, consider alternating beans with leafy greens every other row to improve plant diversity in those plots. 

This is mixing species so they benefit each other in some way. Not only does this bring root diversity for soil health, it can add functional benefits like aromatics from one species helping ward off pests on others. I also like to consider aesthetic benefits when mixing, such as compatible sizes and shapes, or perhaps your flower colors with each other. Marigolds and basil with your tomatoes is a classic regenerative gardening combination. 

Rotating crops, or changing between plant families each year is a best practice farmers use. This helps ease disease pressure along with building long-term microbial diversity. In other words, move where you plant your tomatoes each year, and then plant something else in its place. This applies to your carrots, beans, and brassicas, too.  

Incorporate cover crops with a mix of grasses and legumes. Grass can help prevent erosion with its fibrous and interconnected root system, while bean-family plants (legumes) can pull nitrogen from the atmosphere and deposit it in the soil with the help of specific microbes. Mixed cover crops can also provide unique root shapes to help improve aeration while keeping the structure intact.  

Weeds aren’t always a problem - they too can provide diversity for soil life. There are 2 exceptions in my book though; I never allow thistle or Japanese knotweed to grow in my garden because they are too invasive in my area - be sure to check what might be invasive in your area and plan accordingly. Grass, dandelions, clover, plantain, and other common weeds can be left in place until they get big and then just cut the tops off for compost. It’s best to leave the roots in place; as they decay, the soil life gets a snack and new pore spaces are opened up to improve soil structure, just like with cover crops.

Mix native plants, and non-native too. It makes sense that native plants would attract native soil biology, and that’s a good thing. But many of our gardens are not like the native environment where we live. For example, a planter box on your pool deck might be subjected to more drought-like conditions than the forest that might’ve been there before the houses were developed. In this case, plants that come from drier climates may be more likely to thrive. I use native varieties where I can, and mix with non-natives to improve diversity. I don’t worry about exotic species either, as long as they’re non-invasive. They can improve the soil microbiome as well.