Soil

If your garden soil is poor or has been removed during home construction, you can purchase new topsoil ideal for growing plants. Or use topsoil as an ingredient in soil mixes for containers or...

Good gardens start with good soil; ideal garden soil is black and crumbly, much like what you'd find in a bag of potting soil. The key is working in the right amendments - materials that improve...

To get the most from your annual plantings, you need to spend a little time on first preparing the soil. Soil rich in nutrients and light in texture will reward you with prize winning flowers and...

The study of soil is a science unto itself, but for a beginning gardener, the most crucial bit of knowledge is how fast soil drains. That depends on whether the soil is sandy (very fast), clay...

There is no such thing as "bad soil." Some types of soil retain water longer than fast-draining sandy soil, and clay soil will retain water for a very long time. The problem is that clay soil...

If you live in an area that has a native soil composed mostly of sand, you will need to change your watering habits.

Your success in organic gardening depends in large part on the soil you build. Start with any native soil and add the right organic amendments to nourish your plants. Then let the bed mellow for a...

Soil is the foundation of your garden. If there comes a day that your soil is besieged by nematodes or, perhaps, an invasion of noxious weeds, you may wish to start over with new soil. Instead of...

If you live in an arid climate, be certain you're watering your plants deeply enough for the roots to grow deep into the soil. To determine how far into the soil water is penetrating, use a soil...

Improve heavy (clay) or sandy soil with organic material such as compost. Amendments can help soil drain more effectively or retain water better, but don't provide as many nutrients as fertilizer...

No matter how poor your soil is, you can have rich, fertile planting beds with no digging and no tilling.

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...

Deep watering is the process of driving water down into the soil so that it merges with the natural moisture level deep underground. It encourages roots to follow the water downward, eventually...

A rooting hormone or tonic promotes root growth in plant cuttings. You can buy rooting hormone at nurseries but if you have willow trees nearby, you also can brew up your own.

When should I ammend natural soil with supplements? If the soil at your home is too sandy, or full of clay, you should ammend it to provide your plants good fertilization and drainage.

Incorporating organic potting soil into your landscape or garden is a natural and healthy way to grow plants free of chemicals. Preparing your own organic potting soil can save you money and...

When the time comes to beautify your lawn and gardens with new landscaping, it is vital to know the acidity of your soil. This will help determine what types of vegetation will grow best in your...

Most plants do not grow well in heavy acid because the acid burns the root system and ultimately kills the plants. Knowing your soil's acidity before you plant helps to avoid having to replant...

Composting offers immense benefits for you and your garden. It is economical and puts to good use waste that would otherwise be discarded. Compost produces soil that is rich, dark and full of...

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...

Compacted soil is not good for the grass or the vegetation it supports. It is crucial to prevent this from occurring. Once it occurs, it takes time to fix. Compacted soil prevents roots from...

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...

Gardeners call it black gold, the rich soil product that comes from a composter. Set up an apartment compost system and get black gold for window boxes, balcony planters and indoor plants, while...

Sterilize potting soil before planting or transplanting your seeds or plants to ensure that they grow healthy and beautiful. The sterilization eliminates fungi, bacterial diseases and destructive...

Composting at home is really simple. I know it may appear at first glance that composting is something which requires expertise, but composting in reality requires very little horticultural...

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...

Mycorrhizal fungi may sound menacing, but in fact they actually help plants grow. When these fungi are present in the soil, they help plants absorb nutrients a hundred times more than they could...

Mycorrhizal fungi are one of nature's best kept secrets. These fungi grow in and around plant roots to form an extensive network that help plants absorb precious nutrients they would not otherwise...

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...

Imagine planting a shrub in your backyard only to see it die. It has happened to most of us, but it doesn't always have to. Sometimes, the problem is that the soil in your backyard is not the...

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...

How you dig and prepare your garden spot can determine the quality and quantity of your yield. Before planting, the soil requires a certain amount of preparation. There are many different methods...

Pasteurizing your garden's soil each season before planting rids the soil of weeds, insects, fungi and bacteria that stunt plant growth and make more work for you later. Solarization is the...

Whether your garden is organic or not, you may decide you want to try making your own potting soil mix. Regardless of the size of your garden, you can tailor the potting soil to meet your garden's...

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...

Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, can provide you with nutrient rich worm castings for your garden and houseplants. You can conduct vermicomposting on a small scale and you can even keep...

A plant's ability to absorb nutrients and water from the soil is directly related to the soils pH. That's why it's so important to know whether your garden soil is acidic, alkaline or neutral. If...

Just as a screen can serve both practical and decorative uses in your house, so a berm can help create useful and artistic areas outside your house. A berm is just a mound of earth, designed to...

Phosphorus is one of three main ingredients in commercial fertilizers. The middle number in a fertilizer (example 15-20-15) represents the amount of phosphorus in the fertilizer. Phosphorus is...

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...

Transitioning from chemical fertilizer to organic fertilizer takes some research. Organic fertilizer is made up of the remains of plants and animals. Some say growing food that is free from...

It is important to prepare the soil for your lawn in order to make it grow and look beautiful. One of the major concerns is that the soil needs to be fed and the pH must be kept at the right...

Compost is a common product of household and garden wastes combined to decay over time into a rich, organic compound that enriches the soil to which it is added. Understanding how composting works...

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...

If you want to make your own compost, but don't want to build a pile or compost bin, try this easy method. Next spring you'll have beautiful compost ready to use in your garden.

You see tons of how-to articles on composting, but they never seem as easy as they say. Or they want you to buy a lot of stuff. I scrounged everything for mine, and it is easy, fun, and...

Many avid gardeners make their own potting soil to ensure a proper mixture of ingredients and to save money. Those new to gardening often make the mistake of using garden soil in plant containers....

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...

The quality of your soil has a huge impact on the quality and efficiency of plant growth and health in your yard. If your soil is relatively barren, then you'll see stunted growth of grass, trees...

You may water your plants regularly and trim them to keep them healthy, but that's not enough to ensure their continued growth. The condition of your soil has a huge impact on your plants' growth...