Some very desirable plants like rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries demand acidic soil and many gardeners have alkaline soil which is not suitable to grow these plants. The most common solution I’ve seen is to mix peat moss with the soil to produce an acidic environment. Peat moss is acidic so it makes sense that if … Read More
Most gardeners now understand that a healthy soil is critical to good plant growth and a successful garden. Many of you are also beginning to understand that it is the soil microbes that make healthy soil. Unfortunately, that has lead to a lot of myths about how microbes should be used. Companies are making this … Read More
Dr. Elaine Ingham and the Soil Food Web School promote a number of controversial topics in soil management and in this post I would like to have a closer look at a number of these. Key Takeaways Related Posts You Will Enjoy Growing Seeds in Ice Cream Cones – Great Idea or Ultimate Stupidity? Heptacodium … Read More
Are weeds good indicator plants? Does the presence of a particular weeds tell you something about your soil? There are many claims online that you can tell the pH of your soil by checking the weeds. Some claim that weeds indicate an imbalance in the ratio of bacteria to fungi, and other claim they can … Read More
Over fertilization with either synthetic and organic material can result in toxic soil that no longer supports plant growth. This is a common problem in raised beds that are filled with too much organic matter but it can occur in any garden. Today I’ll have a look at both the cause of high phosphorus in … Read More
Automatically calculate the amount of soil you need in both imperial and metric units. This soil calculator shows the amount for both bulk and bag purchase and can be used for any type of material including topsoil, compost, mulch, and gravel. Automatically calculates the soil needed – give it a try to see how easy … Read More
Every gardening book and web site recommends that you get your soil tested and one of the main tests is for pH. You can get a professional lab to do the test, or you could use one of the convenient soil pH test kits made for gardeners. How useful and accurate are the results of … Read More
Almost everyone recommends getting a soil test, including most gardening web sites, USA extension offices and gardening experts. I disagree! There are good reasons for getting a soil test, but the general advice of getting regular soil tests for homeowners does not make sense. Here’s why. Related Posts You Will Enjoy 10 Easy Soil Testing … Read More
Gardeners have come to understand that the microbe population in soil is critical for healthy soil and healthy plants. There is also tremendous chatter on blogs and in social media about “doing the right thing” to increase microbe populations. Companies have packaged microbes to produce garden “probiotics”. Just sprinkle a bit on your soil and … Read More
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can be very harmful to your health. It has been used in a lot of products including paint, gasoline and cans of food. Lead levels in soil found along roads is higher than in soil located farther from the road and some people won’t grow vegetables in a … Read More
As part of my research on soil products I became aware of the fact that most garden soil is not garden soil. If it is not soil what is it? Related Posts You Will Enjoy Guelph Organic Conference Review Jiffy Peat Pellets – Not Good For The Environment Iris dichotoma