Shop The Presidents Day Sale! 25% Off Sitewide!

Soil Building

Soil building encompasses many different things, as the soil is its own living and changing ecosystem. While it's possible to grow plants without soil, the vast majority of gardeners use it -- soil is everywhere in all of its myriad forms.

Here, we explain all things soil-based as well as the things that are used to improve that soil. Our writing team provides insight into not just soil types and textures, but also composting, cover cropping for soil improvement, mulching for the myriad of benefits it offers, and so many more things.

We'll explore different organic fertilizers and how they work, techniques like the Back To Eden or no-till methods of gardening, and even delve into the many forms of mulch that can be used to reduce erosion and maintain soil moisture.

Organic gardeners know full well the value of having good soil, and the interplay between organic matter and mineral inputs is key to guaranteeing that you have a living, beneficial, and healthy soil food web. To many, the soil is an entirely new frontier waiting to be explored... and so we'll explore it along with you, step by step.

With a little know-how, you too can improve your existing soil in the yard, learn which amendments are necessary or unnecessary in your situation, and optimize for the best outcome for your specific plant types.

The gardener is going to fertilize arborvitae in the garden. Close-up of a hand holding a small plastic measuring spoon full of fertilizer. These fertilizers are finely granulated and white in color. Arborvitae is a genus of evergreen conifers known for their distinctive appearance, characterized by dense, scale-like foliage arranged in flattened sprays.

Fertilizer

When and How to Fertilize Arborvitae

Whether you’re growing an arborvitae hedge or decorating your porch with these vibrant evergreens, healthy green plants are your goal. And that means supplying your plants with the proper nutrients. Join Briana Yablonski as she covers when and how to fertilize arborvitae.

Soil test benefits. Close-up of a woman's hand scooping up soil with a small shovel in the garden to place it in a glass test tube. The soil is slightly moist, dark brown. A small seedling with a pair of smooth cotyledons grows in the soil.

Soil Improvement

5 Benefits of Doing a Garden Soil Test

How do you find out what’s in your soil? A soil test kit offers huge benefits for your garden health and your wallet. Instead of blindly applying fertilizer or making rough estimates of soil pH, you can save money and time with real data about your garden soil. Former organic farmer Logan Hailey explains the benefits of soil testing and how to do it as a beginner.

sterilize compost. Close-up of a man's hand pouring a pile of compost from his palm against a blurred green background. Compost, the end product of the decomposition process in a compost pile, is characterized by its dark, crumbly texture and earthy aroma. Compost is composed of decomposed organic matter such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and plant material, broken down by microorganisms and other decomposers over time.

Composting

Should I Sterilize Compost Before Use?

If you’ve had problems with plant diseases, you may think putting compost in the oven or microwave is a quick fix cure. Sterile means pathogen-free, right? Well, things are a bit more complicated than that. Former organic farmer and soil expert Logan Hailey explains the nuances of home-sterilizing compost and the science behind pathogen-free compost.

A colorful garden overflowing with flowers and plants. Tall green shrubs line the left side of the garden, while shorter plants with pink, purple, and white flowers fill the foreground. There are also several small trees in the background, which provide shade and help to create a sense of depth.

Fertilizer

How and Why to Fertilize Your Flower Garden

Flowering plants cannot flower without the right nutrients, making fertilizing an essential part of flower garden care. Gardening expert Madison Moulton explains the importance of fertilizers and how to fertilize your flower garden.

too much fertilizer. Close-up of a gardener's hand with granular fertilizer over a growing cabbage plant in the garden. A young cabbage plant consists of a compact rosette of large, broad, and lobed leaves that emerge from a central stem close to the ground. The leaves are blue-green in color with a waxy texture and slightly jagged edges. Granular fertilizers come in the form of many small, round, orange granules.

Fertilizer

Can You Use Too Much Fertilizer?

We all know there can be too much of a good thing. Using too much fertilizer can pose huge problems for plants, soil, and local ecology. Former organic farmer Logan Hailey digs into everything you need to know about over-fertilization.

A tidy garden with grass and various drought-resistant plants uses light-colored rocks as mulch.

Mulch

Do Rocks Make Good Mulch?

Rocks are often used as mulch in gardens, but are they the best choice? Master Naturalist Sarah Jay takes a deep dive into the topic, outlining the types of rocks you can garden with and how to use them.

Close-up of growing garlic plants in a bed with pine needle mulch. Garlic plant consists of long, lance-shaped leaves that emerge from a central stem, forming a clump. The mulch consists of long, slender needles that form a loose and airy layer when spread over soil. The color of pine needle mulch varies from light green to golden brown.

Mulch

Do Pine Needles Make Good Mulch?

With all sorts of materials available to use as mulch, it can be difficult to determine what type of much to use. Briana Yablonski will cover the drawbacks and benefits of using pine needles as mulch.

A pair of orange-gloved hands pours a white bottle of liquid fertilizer into the green lid. The gardener is surrounded by a collection of white flowerpots, a yellow watering can, and a mound of brown soil on the white table.

Fertilizer

Houseplant Fertilizers: A Beginner’s Guide

Fertilizing houseplants may seem complicated, but once you understand the basics, you’ll have no trouble giving your houseplants the perfect care at the right time. Houseplant expert Madison Moulton explains everything you need to know about fertilizing houseplants, from different types to application methods.

A close-up of xeriscaping exhibits lavender and blue fescue flowers. The slender leaves of fescues add texture. Planted along the sidewalk, basking in sunlight, they create a vibrant, water-efficient landscape.

Mulch

6 Mulch Options for Xeriscape Gardens

Planning a xeriscape garden but not sure what kind of mulch to use? Want to know more about the xeriscape philosophy and how to conserve soil moisture with mulch? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros touches on xeriscape principles and offers seven mulch options for a water-conscious garden.