Plan Ahead: Apply Soil Amendments After Harvest, Before the Rains

Ponding issues in a Shafter-area orchard due to poor soil conditions three years ago.

With El Niño conditions on the horizon, now is the time to prepare soils for the 2027 season

When should you apply soil amendments for next season?

That’s a common question we get at Holloway this time of year, when growers are wrapping up harvest and looking ahead to soil amendment applications for the following season.

In many cases, the best time to spread is right after harvest, while fields are still dry and accessible.

And with El Niño conditions on the horizon, growers should be thinking ahead about the 2027 season and how their soils will handle potentially wetter winter conditions.

“The post-harvest window is a good opportunity to get amendments applied before winter weather makes field access more difficult. If conditions are dry, it’s a good time to take advantage of them.”

— Daniel Terry, Senior Vice President of Products and Sales

Applying gypsum, compost and other amendments ahead of winter also gives rainfall time to help move those materials into the soil.

Gypsum can help improve water infiltration, water holding capacity and soil structure in soils affected by sodium and other issues, while also supplying calcium and other nutrients.

For fields, vineyards and orchards prone to ponding or slow infiltration, getting gypsum and compost applied before the rainy season can be part of a broader strategy for managing water, capturing rain when we get it and avoiding significant runoff.

“You want to think about what the soil is going to need before the weather gets here. Applying amendments when the ground is dry gives growers more flexibility and lets winter rainfall become part of the process.”

— Allie Cushnyr, Senior Agronomist

Cushnyr wrote about improving infiltration and preventing ponding after excessive rains last winter in the November edition of West Coast Nut magazine, discussing practical solutions for “Improving Infiltration and Reducing Ponding” in tree nuts.

“Preventing ponding in a field is important,” Cushnyr wrote, “because too much water will increase the risk for soil borne diseases, affect root health and eventually disrupt the productivity of the orchard.”

For more in-depth information on improving infiltration and reducing ponding, you can read the full article in West Coast Nut magazine, on pages 18-19.

Additionally, Cushnyr noted it’s worth considering the following points for you post-harvest soil management:

• Soil sampling post-harvest is a great opportunity to measure nutrient carryover for the next season.
• Lab results should guide soil amendment recommendations from a trusted agronomist to ensure you have the ideal product being used at the right rate and the right time.
• Incorporating these soil-specific factors into a 2027 fertilizer plan is key for budgeting and planning.

A Central Coast vineyard under water due to poor soil conditions following the winter storms of 2023.

There’s also a practical reason to apply amendments after harvest: It’s generally easier to deliver and spread them when fields are dry.

Once winter rains arrive, getting trucks and spreading equipment into fields can become much more difficult.

For growers planning for 2027, immediately after post harvest is the time to look at fields that have experienced ponding, poor infiltration or other soil-related challenges and determine what amendments may be appropriate.

Don’t wait for the first storm. Get your soils tested today, and let’s plan your soil amendment program while conditions are still in your favor.

Want to learn more? Fill out the form on this page to discuss your soil needs with a local agronomist in your region. 

Grower Testimonial

Scott Dewar from Crown Harvesting in Bakersfield discusses the importance of soil sampling and applying gypsum to improve water infiltration issues as pistachio harvest wraps up in August 2026.