Soil

Soil preparation is the first and most important step in gardening. Just as humans need nutritious food to thrive, plants need nutrient-rich soil to grow and produce flowers or fruit. Amending...

Converting your organic kitchen and garden waste into compost is an easy way for you to limit the growth of landfills, reduce your carbon footprint, and add healthy, rich nutrients to your garden...

Roses are distantly related to the apple tree, so it makes sense that both roses and apples can be fertilized the same way. Both thrive on a fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorous and...

Urea is widely used in the agricultural industry as an animal feed additive and fertilizer. With 46 percent nitrogen, it is an efficient source of nitrogen in fertilizers.

Calculating the amount of dirt you need for a lawn project is a vital landscaping skill. The good news is that calculating the square footage of dirt is essentially the same as calculating the...

Sheep, goat, cow, horse, chicken or bat---combine any of these manures with your compost and you will see positive results in your garden. These positive results typically last the length of a...

Vermicomposting is an easy way to compost inside your home or apartment. Worms eliminate the compost smell and leave behind castings that make a hearty soil. Though there are many commercial...

Ordinary newspaper can be a successful component of rich, useful garden compost. Newsprint is composed primarily of plant fiber, and modern newspaper inks are made from a safe soybean oil base....

Soil is composed of a mixture of water, air, minerals and organic matter. Soil forms the top layer of the Earth's crust and has many functions, including purifying water, recycling nutrients and...

Soil pH is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a soil is. The soil pH level is can affect nutrient availability for some plants. You can alter the pH level by adding lime or wood ash to the...

Clay soil is difficult to grow lawns on because the soil particles are so fine that when water is added, these particles stick together, causing poor drainage and lack of airflow. The grass roots...

Composting is a process that speeds the breakdown of organic materials by creating the proper carbon to nitrogen level for organisms to feed on. This is accomplished by layering green nitrogen...

The earthworm will always be a favorite bait among fishermen. Digging for their own earthworms is an important aspect of the entire fishing process for many anglers, and kids love getting their...

Crushed lime-rock powder can be added in the construction of your compost heap to assist in the raising of the pH balance of your end product. Lime serves as a microbe accelerator and, when used...

Pine needles make a good, attractive mulch for landscaping and perennial beds, but they decompose slowly and are slightly acidic. Together with their prickly nature, this makes them less useful as...

The siliceous bodies of diatoms do not decompose after their death but fall to the bottom of the water where they lived. The accumulation of large deposits of these diatom shells is known as...

Are you an avid gardener? You have probably experienced many different soil situations, including topsoil that forms large clumps. These clumps make planting very difficult. Small plants and...

Potassium chloride (KCl) is a compound known as a metal halide. Potassium chloride is usually processed from salt water and purified. It has many uses in industry and everyday life.

Plants grown in soil maintained under an organic system receive benefits from delicate microorganisms that are easily disrupted through the use of chemical fertilizers and soil improvers. Healthy...

A compost bin is a great way to store compost in the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, building one will provide you with a location to keep your compost protected until the spring...

Over time, fertilizer, excessive rainfall and composting plant material can make soil acidic. When soil becomes too acidic conditions are created that are not favorable for plant growth. Adding...

Plants typically thrive in alkaline, or basic, soil. Alkaline soil that has a pH of 7.5 to 14. Plants such as azaleas, pine trees and blueberries, however, prefer acidic soil, which measures 1.0...

Soil pH affects plants' ability to obtain nutrients from the soil. Plants generally get maximum benefit from nutrients in the soil when the pH is between 5.5 and 7.

Erosion refers to the natural yet harmful effects that wind and water have on the soil over time. Erosion can be aggravated by human intervention and must be controlled in order to prevent...

Although an outdoor compost heap is a useful way to dispose of kitchen waste during the summer months, it may not be a viable alternative in cold winters. Vermicomposting, or composting with...

Individuals in pursuit of a vibrant lawn and garden will have already discovered the importance of regularly fertilizing the soil. Without the proper nutrients, plants can become listless, pale,...

The acid content of soil is measured by the pH level. A pH level of less than seven indicates an acidic soil, while a pH greater than seven is a basic or alkali condition. Materials added to the...

Starting a new garden is easy--just get out the tiller or shovel and dig. You can plant anything in whatever type of soil you have. But long-term growth and success depends on the soil and the...

Sunflower seeds are in abundance at the end of a summer growing season. Each head of a sunflower produces dozens, sometimes hundreds of seeds. Anyone with a garden of sunflowers can end up with...

Using charcoal to enrich the soil around your home and in your garden helps the soil retain valuable nutrients that improve the quality of the plants you grow. Charcoal adds carbon to the soil,...

Gullies are typically caused by increased rates and intensity of surface runoff. Unchecked rill erosion may evolve into this more substantial form, which can result from poor land-use management...

Turn your vegetable scraps into rich soil with worms. Watch microorganisms and macroorganisms at work. Composting with redworms allows them to digest and break down garbage; it also reduces plant...

A soil test chemically extracts and measures the elements essential to plant nutrition. A soil test measures things such as soil acidity and pH, which can indicate the soil's available nutrients...

Topsoil provides one of the most valuable resources on the planet, supplying the raw material to raise food and cleanse the air of dangerous toxins. A handful of healthy topsoil contains billions...

Getting natural, it's all the rage. And making your own compost right at home should give any greenie something to smile about. Soil has naturally occurring bacteria that break down organic waste...

Recycling the disposable remnants of nature's blessings to nourish the new growth is the role that composting plays in gardening and landscape maintenance. Compost bins are handy...

The pH of your soil can impact how well your plants grow in your yard or garden. Different plants have different pH preferences. The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen and hydroxide...

When planting, it is important to pay attention to the colors of soil you are using. The color of the soil reflects what nutrients are heavy or lacking in that type.

San Diego County's soil is diverse. It is also often inhospitable to large-scale farming. A comprehensive list of San Diego soils can be overwhelming, but knowing types of soil, how they are...

One of the most important things for a successful garden (whether flower or vegetable) is starting with great soil. Great soil will encourage the roots to spread and grow, get the correct amount...

Worms spend their lives within the soil, processing organic matter and releasing that processed matter as waste. Worm waste products contain high levels of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. This...

Lawn clippings (cut grass) can break down--or decompose--and turn into rich and organic soil. However, lawn clippings make a better compost if they are mixed with other natural things such as...

Whether you are clearing out old trees or simply pruning bushes, you may have a pile of hardwood just waiting to be reused. Why not compost it and give it another life in nutrient-rich soil?...

If your compost pile stinks, it is typically a symptom of an imbalance in the environment within the compost pile. A compost pile is a delicate environment in which microbes break down organic...

Composting has become increasingly popular as people look for more green and efficient ways to dispose of their yard and kitchen waste. Compost bins come in different forms from a simple cage to a...

Of all of the green habits you can pick up, composting is one of the simplest and fastest techniques to learn. You can even make your own active microbe starters for your compost. These microbes...

Soil refers to a layer of material that is ubiquitous on the surface of the Earth. Soil is usually classified by its texture, which is determined by the amount of sand, silt or clay that is...

Soil pollution remains one of the gravest environmental concerns as it can contaminate our food supply and potable water resources. Even small amounts of soil pollution can cause severe health...

Radon is one of the most deadly substances on Earth, and is much more common in homes than most people believe. Radon usually comes from soil and then enters the home. You can prevent this toxin...

While mostly harmless, soil fungus is found almost everywhere. Soil fungi that can damage or kill plants are called pathogens. Although soil testing labs and kits do not generally test soil for...