by Matt Gibson Compost and soil are not the same thing — and using the wrong one (or the wrong ratio) can actually hurt your plants. Gardeners often use the terms interchangeably, but they serve very different roles. Compost is a soil amendment: something you add to soil to … [Read more...]
Basics of Soil Solarization, Fully Explained
By Erin Marissa Russell Soil solarization uses high temperatures to kill insects, weeds, and pathogens in moist soil, using the heat of the sun instead of the chemicals often employed. It requires enough plastic sheeting to cover the desired area, water, and a bit of time and … [Read more...]
How to Improve Soil Drainage in Your Garden
By Erin Marissa Russell Want to know how to improve soil drainage in your garden? One thing you’ll see on the care instructions for almost any plant is good drainage. Let’s take a look at why soil drainage is important and how to test your soil’s drainage as well as some ways … [Read more...]
How long does it take to solarize soil?
Question: How long does it take to solarize soil? I am interested in trying it out, but I don't necessarily want to leave a bunch of plastic on the ground for a super long time if I don't have to. How does it work? - Julia W Answer: It generally takes around eight weeks to … [Read more...]
15 Mulch Alternatives for Your Garden
by Erin Marissa Russell There are so many different alternatives to mulch that it will be easy to find one—or a few—that are right for your garden on this list. We’ve explained the basics of how each method works along with a few of the pros and cons for each mulch … [Read more...]