Rameal Chipped Wood (RCW) as a Mulch and Soil Amendment
by Edith Smeesters, biologist, author and speakerwww.edithsmeesters.org A few decades ago, I was given a book by Ida and JeanContinue Reading
Category: Soil
Victory Garden 2.0 Soil Basics
Building Your Garden from the Ground Up: Basic Tips for Improving Garden Soil Quality You’re dreaming of spring, eager toContinue Reading
Recycle Your Used Potting Soil!
Don’t throw out your used potting soil: reuse it! Photo: pistilsnursery.com By Larry Hodgson As you repot your houseplants intoContinue Reading
Using Coffee Grounds as Compost: Are They Good for Plants?
Photo: Shanegenziuk, Wikimedia Commons By Ruby Collins Most people rely on a cup of coffee to get them going inContinue Reading
Garden Myth: Add Sand to Lighten Clay Soil
Contrary to popular belief, adding sand to a clay soil will not lighten it. In fact, it will make itContinue Reading
How Does Biochar Work to Improve, or Even Decontaminate, Soil?
Fruitwood pyrolized into biochar. Photo: Jeff Novak, USDA-ARS. An article by Jim Ippolito, Colorado State University Biochar – as theContinue Reading
Garden Myth: You Can Use Sterilized Garden Soil to Start Seeds
Sterilizing potting soil is generally a waste of time. Photo: sublimesucculents.com Question: On Facebook, I saw that you can sterilize theContinue Reading
Soil Your Underwear to Test Your Soil
Did you know that you can check the biological activity in your garden soil by burying cotton underwear in it?Continue Reading
Can You Reuse Soil From Outdoor Planters?
Don’t throw away the soil from your containers. It can be reused! Photo: Gary Pilarchik Question: I’ve been emptying my outdoorContinue Reading
Lead Can Still Be a Problem in Urban Soils
Lead is still poisoning urban soils. Photo: subpng.com, uokpl.rs & onlygfx.com I had a horrible scare back in the mid-1980s.Continue Reading