Soil

The US Department of Agriculture classifies soil texture according to its composition, and the three basic materials that comprise soil are clay, sand, and silt. The proportions of each of these...

Topsoil is an amazing substance, with billions of beneficial microorganisms in every square inch. But topsoil can be depleted by intensive agricultural activity, especially if you do not...

Casing soil is an important component of mushroom growing. The unique growing conditions required by mushrooms calls for a soil that has excellent moisture retention and a dark, warm environment....

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...

Healthy topsoil is essential for maintaining a healthy and thriving lawn and garden. Healthy topsoil has a healthy balance of minerals, is regularly watered and is loose enough to provide adequate...

A pH value reflects the acidity of a substance. Neutral is a pH of 7. Values below 7 correspond to acidic solutions, while basic solutions have pH above 7. Soil pH is an important factor that...

Clay soil is heavy, doesn't drain well and easily compacts around plant roots. While it's easy to break it up and amend it each year in annual flower and plant beds, in perennial beds there is...

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...

Blueberry bushes make up a large family of fruiting bush with species growing both above the Arctic Circle and well into the humid southern reaches of North America. Blueberries are related to...

Hard clay soil is heavy and tightly compacted, and growing most plants, trees or gardens in this type of soil is nearly impossible. Because hard clay soil packs together so tightly, water and...

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,...

Soil contains nitrogen, potassium, organic matter, particles and minerals. Soil analysts isolate these elements using touch, extraction and suspension methods. Elemental deficiencies and...

Composting is a great way to get rid of excess yard waste and kitchen scraps without adding to the landfill or polluting the air with smoke from burning leaves. Not only is it the environmentally...

Soil varies throughout the world, and Italy has soil like no other. Both acidic and alkaline, Italian soils are used to produce everything from bold vineyard grapes to everyday herbs such as rosemary.

Salmonella is the most common cause of food borne illness worldwide. Recent studies show that soil contamination is often the root source of infection for food outbreaks, so there is increasing...

There are a wonderful variety of plants that love acid soil. Among them are azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies, conifers, ferns and hydrangea. You'll also find plants that produce edible fruits such...

Green roof gardens reduce the amount of rainwater run-off into a city's water system, help to cool a building in hot weather and reduce the effect of heat islands, common to urban areas. Install...

Soil that is high in both salt and sodium is considered to be saline-sodic soil. This type of soil might occur naturally or unnaturally though the impact of human gardening and farming practices.

Soil is the foundation of any successful organic garden. It is impossible to raise bountiful harvests of healthy organic fruits and vegetables unless you start with soil free of the toxic...

Polymer crystals, technically known as polyacrylamide hydrogels, are a common soil additive used to retain moisture at the roots of plants, shrubs and small trees. These crystals are able to...

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...

In many areas aquatic plants have become invasive and are choking out the native species. Luckily, the fast growth of these plants can be leveraged and the plants used as a high-nitrogen nutrient...

Adding Sulfur to clay soil is done in order to lower the alkaline levels in the clay, and raise the acidic levels. It's a process often used by gardeners, landscapers or farmers operating in...

Pennington is one of the more prominent manufacturers of Epsom salts for use in gardens and lawns. In a sense, Epsom salt is Epsom salt, but there are two basic precautions gardeners should take...

Sandy soil is composed of large, coarse, rapidly-draining particles. Clay soil is made up of fine particles, which when compacted, causes soil to become waterlogged. A grower who knows the...

Not all types of soil are alike, and clay and sand represent opposite ends of the soil spectrum. In order to successfully grow plants in sand or clay, it helps to understand the unique...

Composting is the process by which organic matter such as table scraps, leaves and grass clippings are placed into an outdoor pile and allowed to decompose. The heat that is generated by the...

Organic matter such as leaves, twigs, scat and insect remains are ubiquitous in soil. Larger chunks can be picked from the soil by hand, smaller quantities can be sieved or sifted, but other...

A soil analysis measures the amount of various elements in a soil sample that are usable by plants and needed for their growth. Lime is made up of two such elements, calcium and magnesium.

Growing healthy organic produce in the home garden starts with good organic soil. The soil in container plants and seedling trays shouldn't be from a bag at the store, as these often are treated...

Plants grow best in neutral soil--soil with a pH balance of 6.5 to 7.5. Lower numbers indicate acidic soil and higher numbers indicate basic, or alkaline, soil. To optimize growing conditions,...

Raised garden beds address a variety of gardening problems, from lackluster soil to a too-short growing season. You can design them to be any size or shape that meets your space needs or...

Mold can grow abundantly on the top of plant soil. A common cause of mold growth is over watering. Insufficient air flow and high humidity also aid in the production of mold, which poses a danger...

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...

You can save topsoil by maintaining a healthy balance of microfauna and planting ground cover to hold the soil in place, preventing it from washing or blowing away. Topsoil is most likely to...

Citrus trees including lemon can flourish in a range of soils, including poor soil, but most prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Lemon trees do not like extremes of alkaline soil (pH above...

For people who wish to start a garden but are dealing with a lawn composed of impacted, non-porous clay soil, gypsum is an affordable and organic way of sufficiently altering soil composition....

Earthworms wriggle around in the ground, forming tunnels that help guide water to plant roots and loosening the soil so that the roots can grow. They also break down waste products in the soil and...

Growing an organic garden requires that soil be neutralized so it is neither too acidic nor too alkaline. After testing the pH level, gardeners often find that their soil contains too much acid. ...

Knowing how your yard drains will help you set goals to improve your drainage. The type of soil in your yard determines how well it drains and the slope or grade of your yard determines what low...

Most all land-grant colleges across the country have an agricultural extension service office. The purpose of these offices is to offer a consultancy on growing plants and land management...

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.

When using compost to amend a garden, you will encounter two types: finished compost and unfinished compost. Unfinished compost is compost that still contains microbes that break down the organic...

To create an optimal growing medium for your garden plants, it is often necessary to change the chemical balance in the soil itself. Some plants prefer alkalized soil, while others prefer a more...

Worm castings provide a nutrient rich medium for plants and fauna to grow. Mixed into soil, a night-crawler excrement can drastically improve the quality through fertilization. Night-crawler worms...

Raised beds create a superior soil base for growing vegetables and flowers. Instead of depending on the quality of soil in the garden, raised beds give plenty of room for amending and improving...

Peat moss has been a favorite of gardeners for a long time, but as environmental awareness increases, the risks and dangers of using peat moss in the garden become more known and understood.

Soil test kits are not typically very complex. The prices of the kits range from about $5 to $35 and, for the most part, they are simply used to test the pH level of your soil. However, with a few...

Soil used to line the bottom of ornamental ponds or container-grow aquatic plants must be dense and heavy. Topsoils rich in clay and low in organic matter are ideal as they remain dense while...

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...