Soil

Plastic mulching has been shown to have many benefits, including weed control, increased soil temperature and less evaporation. These conditions can make it possible for plants such as tomatoes,...

Mulch prevents weeds and retains soil moisture, but after a few years it begins to look tired and worn in ornamental beds. Instead of tossing it out and wasting all that organic material, compost...

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...

Transferring earthworms to your garden is a great way to enrich your soil and keep it loose so that your plants' roots can grow deep and strong. Earthworms eat organic matter and generate waste...

No-till and no-dig methods of planting are designed to reduce manual labor and equipment usage and to preserve soil structure. Microorganisms are undisturbed and the loss of organic matter and...

Garden mulch consists mainly of organic products that are spread over your garden or soil areas of your lawn. Mulch is a great enhancer to lawn growth and helps conserve water usage. Mulch comes...

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...

If you have ever done landscaping or work in the construction sector you probably deal with your fair share of wood chips, often called mulch. Most people throw away what is usually considered...

Raising earthworms in a worm bin or in the soil of your garden is a natural way to keep your garden healthy. The worms' waste, called castings, is a nitrogen-rich, loamy fertilizer you can use to...

Compost is one of the most beneficial soil amendments, and adding it is one of the easiest ways to improve the health of your garden. The byproduct of organic materials decomposing, compost is an...

Erosion is the loss of topsoil due to the movement of water. Hillsides stripped of vegetation have the biggest problem with erosion, but erosion can happen anywhere soil is lacking vegetation....

Now that the summer is here, many of you have already begun to spruce up the garden and lawn. Each year I spend tons of money on mulch, top soil, potting soil mixes, chemicals and so much...

Mulching your garden is a great habit to get into especially in these days of water shortages (think California). Mulching is not something you have to do, but it has a lot of benefits.

Composted manure---cow, chicken or sheep manure that has been left to decompose for several months---can be used to improve the health of your garden dramatically. Using compost in your garden...

The other day a man came to my house and we were looking at my garden when he commented on the soil. "Where did you get this dirt? This isn't Missouri(Ozarks)dirt." The fact was,...

You've just bought your dream house, and you've gone outside to start your dream garden. Shockingly, you discover that your dirt isn't a nice, dark brown; it's red clay. That's no good for anyone....

You can create a compost heap, bin or pile out of almost any organic substance. Once broken down, the ingredients blend together to form a nutrient-rich, natural soil or mulch for your garden....

While some plant diseases are spread by insects and pests, many of them spread through the soil. Gardeners can greatly reduce the occurrence of soilborne disease in their crops by being alert to...

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...

Cocoa bean mulch is made up of the shell of the cocoa bean, which is removed during the roasting process. It can be used in many types of gardens from annuals, perennials, trees and some...

Soil erosion can be a major problem for you if you have a garden, plant beds or a farm. Preventing soil erosion is a responsibility that we all have to take seriously. There are several things...

The soil in the north Texas area can be challenging, to say the least. Its clay alkaline soil naturally withstands long periods of drought and retains nutrients. But north Texas soil also shrinks...