Soil

Dumps are piling up by the second, and it's, undeniably, making our world pretty stinky. Our hospitals are large businesses that contribute to this garbage buildup, by the thousands. To curve this...

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...

Topsoil is measured and sold according to volume. In small quantities, such as in small bags, it is measured in cubic feet, liters or cubic yards. Larger quantities that are stored and transported...

Clay soil is often referred to as heavy soil because of its water-retention capacity. Because it drains poorly, it is easily saturated with water, which can lead to root rot or make it hard for...

Fungus gnats are insects which look like small mosquitoes and thrive in organic matter found in potting soil. Although they are merely an annoyance in their adult, flying stage, their larval stage...

The Colorado spruce (Picea pungens) is a handsome evergreen tree that is desirable for landscapes across the northern United States and Canada. Planting it in heavy clay soil requires extra steps...

Soil has various compositions and comes in a variety of forms. Natural soils consist of minerals, organic matter and living organisms that are in balance with surrounding geological features and...

Black mulch (also called "black gold") is a type of compost soil that provides many nutrients to a garden. To make black mulch, you must build it in layers and give it time to develop. According...

Experienced gardeners realize that good soil is the foundation for successful gardening. Quality soil is soil that has the right proportions of organic matter and materials that facilitate proper...

This rock separator screen empties garden rocks into a bucket and dumps the soil back on the ground.

What is in soil? Soil is the most important part of gardening, no soil, no crops. Soil contains plant roots, animal material, insects, bacteria, fungus and organisms. By plowing over your garden...

For some people, hearing the word composting brings to mind large piles of garbage that take months to break down and backbreaking labor to turn and stir those piles to hasten the process. But it...

Growing in popularity, rain gardens not only enhance property values, they provide an eco-friendly way to divert storm water and reduce pollution. Once established, a rain garden serves to collect...

Using organic soil fertilizer will ensure that your fruit tree has all of the nutrients it needs to grow the most delicious fruit possible. Learn how to organically fertilize fruit trees by...

In order to grow a great vegetable or flower garden, your soil needs to provide the plants the optimal level of nutrition. You can diagnose soil deficiencies with a soil testing kit, which will...

As humans continue to reach record population levels, the earth's viable resources continue to stretch thinner and thinner every year. One of the often overlooked resources is the soil. Conserving...

It is important for gardeners to know the pH of the soil they are working with, because most plants require a particular pH range for optimal growth. pH stands for "potential hydrogen ions" and is...

Contaminated soil is a growing concern in urban and suburban growth areas. Rural America also has a problem with contaminates leaching into the water supply from farm run-off, pesticides and...

Crop dusting, also known as aerial application, has been popular with farmers since the beginning of the twentieth century. It refers to the spreading of fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides...

Become the best crop dusting operation in your region. Being the best crop duster requires research and analysis to learn how to purchase the best supplies at the best prices. But once you're...

Poor drainage, swelling, cracking and a high pH make clay soil a challenge for even the most experienced gardeners. The good news is, amending clay soil is relatively simple–you just need to add...

Poor drainage is the leading cause of death for garden plants. Adding organic matter will improve poorly draining soils. If you've tried that, though, and your site still retains water for hours...