Soil

Preserving topsoil is an ongoing process. Many of the strategies that help to build topsoil are the same as those which you use to preserve it, because healthy topsoil is dense and moist and less...

Fertilizing is an essential part of raising a successful vegetable garden. Since plants rely on a variety of minerals and nutrients to support vibrant growth, getting the right blend to the roots...

Manure fertilizers are a great way to add nutrients to the soil. They provide a cheap, natural and effective way to enrich soil and aid in plant growth. Manure fertilizers are often packaged and...

Good soil is essential for healthy plants. Healthy soil provides enough water, essential nutrients and a suitable pH for plant growth. The texture of the soil is often an effective indicator to...

Topsoil refers to the loosely packed fertile portion of the soil used to cover the ground. Topsoil is rich in nutrients, which are important to plant growth and health.

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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.

Compost is a product which burns itself off into the ground and has powerful results. Weed seeds cannot survive the use of compost. Compost often smells like a forest or light manure. The main...

All plants need nutrients. This is as true in the wild as it is in the garden. Whether growing grass, flowers, vegetables or trees, the gardener's job is to ensure that these plants have the...

Composting is an effective way to add nutrient-rich soil to flower beds, vegetable gardens and any other place plants are grown. Many claim that colloidal humus takes composting to the next level....

Clay soil is generally negatively charged, allowing it to bond easily with a number of nutrients that carry a positive charge. As this bonding occurs over time, most clay soil ends up with a...

While there are actually several different shades of topsoil throughout the world, true topsoil is black due to the presence of humus. Humus results from decayed organic materials and makes the...

Some gardeners do not need to make much of an effort to amend their soil, but for others, especially those with clay soil, there is a lot of groundwork to be done before planting can happen. Clay...

Plants typically require nutrient-rich, well-drained soil to prosper well. There are plants that have adapted to less than favorable conditions, such as clay soil.

A wide variety of nutrients aid plant growth and flowering. Some nutrients are added by gardeners to boost production, some are found naturally in the soil, and some are drawn from the air and...

Scientists classify soil by the largest particle it contains. Particle size influences the soil's ability to drain moisture and hold nutrients. While basic soil classifications exist, soils can be...

A check of a dictionary generally provides you with all the information you need to define something. When it comes to topsoil, though, you often need to do a little more work. With no regulations...

Perhaps the most important factor of a successful vegetable garden is having well prepared soil. That’s why the mantra of the organic gardener is “feed the soil, not the plant.” If you...

Unless you are fortunate enough to live in an area with nutrient-rich soil, your garden is likely to need nutrient supplementation from time to time. There's no shortage of synthetic fertilizers...

Soil testing is most commonly used to determine the soil's nutrient content or level of organic matter. You may also check the pH level of the soil to find out whether it is alkaline or acidic....

All gardens--whether ornamental or vegetable--need the proper balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive. Plants constantly strip the soil of these nutrients, so for a show-stopping yard or...

Soil is made up of inorganic and organic particles. Clay soil is defined as a soil that is at least 40 percent clay particles. How much clay in soil is determined by the texture, structure and...

Biointensive gardening applies traditional farm management principles to improve soil quality, naturally manage pests, and produce healthy abundant food crops. It also calls for planting crops...

Organic fertilizers are becoming more commercially available as consumers move towards sustainable practices for their yard and Garden. Many organic fertilizers provide plant nutrients and...

Loam soil is composed of three different types of particles--clay, sand and silt--in fairly even increments. The ideal balance is 20 percent clay, 40 percent silt and 40 percent sand.

The process of composting has been occurring naturally since the beginning of time. Decayed organic matter has provided areas of fertile soil capable of producing the world's food supply. Since...

Soil has many ingredients. In addition to inorganic materials that could be in your soil, such as sand and rocks, there is decomposed matter, commonly called compost or humus. Soil also contains...

Dark and rich soil is a gardener's haven. Not only is it rich in nutrients, but it retains moisture, preventing the roots of plants from drying out during long periods of drought. Clay or sandy...

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 minerals or plant nutrients found in topsoil are important both to the growth of plants and to those--people and animals--who will eventually consume those plants. Farmers and gardeners...

The uppermost layer of the earth generally runs between 2 and 8 inches deep and is a rich source of nutrients and biological occurrences. It is known as topsoil. This is also the soil that is...

There are a variety of weeds out there in the world attacking your perfect lawn. Like grass, weeds are fighting for a place in your lawn and competing for the same nutrients. The result is a war...

All soil consist of clay, silt, and sand particles. Plants grow best when there is a nearly equal percentage of each of these, along with five to ten percent organic matter. Soil texture varies...

Manure tea is a homemade garden fertilizer similar to compost teas. To make it, manure is soaked in water to concentrate the nutrients. There are different methods for using the tea, however...

The important thing to remember when planting vegetation is that good topsoil is essential for successful growing. Topsoil is rich in minerals and nutrients that plants need to grow. Topsoil is...

Get better yield from your home garden, a healthier lawn or dense flower garden with the application of a good fertilizers. Fertilizers replenish missing soil nutrients, they nurture plants and...

To the surprise of some, there is more than one type of dirt. And its function is more significant than to be tracked into your house by dirty sneakers and muddy dogs. Soil creates the basic...

Many think composting is difficult and unnecessary; after all, there is fertilizer and it is "right out of the bag!" Well avid believers in composting, can tell you the differences and...

The condition of your garden soil has the biggest bearing on how well your plants will grow. Even if you are consistent with watering, weeding and pruning, if your garden soil isn't particularly...

The condition of your garden soil has the biggest bearing on how well your plants will grow. Even if you are consistent with watering, weeding and pruning, if your garden soil isn't particularly...