Rototilling, Improving Soil With Garden Fertilizers, Soil pH
These resources discuss soil pH, rototillers and garden fertilizers for improving soil. Learn about acid-loving plants and plants that prefer a soil pH that is neutral or alkaline. Rototiller care, compost, cover crops, rototilling in spring and fall, organic garden fertilizers and mulching are related subjects.
Chemical Fertilizers for Lawns - A Schedule to Follow
If you're committed to organic lawn care (which I highly recommend), start a compost pile. Otherwise, the secret of having a green lawn lies in applying chemical fertilizers on a schedule. I use Scotts chemical fertilizers as an example in this article, but you could certainly use others, instead. But you have to be careful with chemical fertilizers: always follow instructions explicitly!
If you're committed to organic lawn care (which I highly recommend), start a compost pile. Otherwise, the secret of having a green lawn lies in applying chemical fertilizers on a schedule. I use Scotts chemical fertilizers as an example in this article, but you could certainly use others, instead. But you have to be careful with chemical fertilizers: always follow instructions explicitly!
Fall Cleanup: Sorting Leaves Into Mulch and Compost Bins
Okay, you've decided to recycle those leaves you're raking up. You'll use them next year for compost or mulch. But this article shows you how to be more efficient, by planning ahead. Compost bin aesthetics also considered.
Okay, you've decided to recycle those leaves you're raking up. You'll use them next year for compost or mulch. But this article shows you how to be more efficient, by planning ahead. Compost bin aesthetics also considered.
Rototillers, Mulching and Preparing the Spring Garden's Soil
Ready to prepare the landscape for the growing season? Don't be an April fool! This half-humorous article provides shortcuts and tips to landscaping novices. Rototillers, mulching, and preparing the garden soil in spring.
Ready to prepare the landscape for the growing season? Don't be an April fool! This half-humorous article provides shortcuts and tips to landscaping novices. Rototillers, mulching, and preparing the garden soil in spring.
Hurricane Katrina Cleanup
As in the 2004 tsunami, a long-term element in the cleanup efforts necessitated by 2005's Hurricane Katrina will be dealing with soil salinization, i.e., salts deposited by the flooding that are harmful to plants. Discover what your options are if your own soil has been contaminated with salt.
As in the 2004 tsunami, a long-term element in the cleanup efforts necessitated by 2005's Hurricane Katrina will be dealing with soil salinization, i.e., salts deposited by the flooding that are harmful to plants. Discover what your options are if your own soil has been contaminated with salt.
Garden Cultivators: Small Rototillers
Small mechanical garden tillers, also termed, "cultivators," are preferable to larger rototillers for small plots. Learn more about garden cultivators in this review.
Small mechanical garden tillers, also termed, "cultivators," are preferable to larger rototillers for small plots. Learn more about garden cultivators in this review.
Testing Soil pH
Marie Iannotti, About's Gardening Guide, discusses five soil-related topics in this introductory article: texture, structure, soil pH, organic matter and fertility. Learn about such fundamental matters as why and how to test soil pH.
Marie Iannotti, About's Gardening Guide, discusses five soil-related topics in this introductory article: texture, structure, soil pH, organic matter and fertility. Learn about such fundamental matters as why and how to test soil pH.
How to Improve Clay Soil
To improve clay soil, Colleen Vanderlinden, About's Guide to Organic Gardening, says that "you'll need to add six to eight inches of organic matter to the entire bed." Read the rest of her tips on this article about how to improve clay soil.
To improve clay soil, Colleen Vanderlinden, About's Guide to Organic Gardening, says that "you'll need to add six to eight inches of organic matter to the entire bed." Read the rest of her tips on this article about how to improve clay soil.
Organic and Chemical Fertilizers
Fertilizer basics from the University of Arizona Extension. Fertilizers are either “complete” or “incomplete.” The former usually go by names like “10-10-10” (none of the numbers can be zeroes), while the latter have rather imposing names like “ammonium phosphate sulfate” and do carry a big fat zero under either the nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium heading.
Fertilizer basics from the University of Arizona Extension. Fertilizers are either “complete” or “incomplete.” The former usually go by names like “10-10-10” (none of the numbers can be zeroes), while the latter have rather imposing names like “ammonium phosphate sulfate” and do carry a big fat zero under either the nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium heading.
OrganicGardening.com's Compost Primer
Get the basics here: materials required and how to use them to build a compost pile. Even helps you decide whether you need a compost "bin" in order to have a successful compost "pile."
Get the basics here: materials required and how to use them to build a compost pile. Even helps you decide whether you need a compost "bin" in order to have a successful compost "pile."
Basic Grounding in Soil Science
This Virginia Tech Extension introduction to soil covers all the basics: building healthy soil, improving soil structure, how to test your soil, adding organic matter, growing cover crops and green manures, adding nutrients and correcting severe situations.
This Virginia Tech Extension introduction to soil covers all the basics: building healthy soil, improving soil structure, how to test your soil, adding organic matter, growing cover crops and green manures, adding nutrients and correcting severe situations.
Online Topsoil Calculator to Determine
This site has an online topsoil calculator. Use it (it's free) to calculate how much topsoil you'll need for a given yard, and what it will cost you. The price, of course, pertains specifically to buying from this particular business; but if you just want to know how much topsoil you need, you can find out here -- and then get buy the topsoil wherever you wish.
This site has an online topsoil calculator. Use it (it's free) to calculate how much topsoil you'll need for a given yard, and what it will cost you. The price, of course, pertains specifically to buying from this particular business; but if you just want to know how much topsoil you need, you can find out here -- and then get buy the topsoil wherever you wish.
Understanding the Soil pH Meter Without a Ph.D
What exactly is soil pH, and why is it important? If you have a soil pH that's too low, how do you raise it? If too high, how do you lower it? All this, plus soil pH preferences for selected plants.
What exactly is soil pH, and why is it important? If you have a soil pH that's too low, how do you raise it? If too high, how do you lower it? All this, plus soil pH preferences for selected plants.
Garden Fertilizers - The What / When of Garden Fertilizers
As Mary Robson writes, "Standing in a garden center looking at fertilizer packages can be confusing. What to apply? When to apply it?" In this article she answers those questions about garden fertilizers. Interestingly, she takes issue with the popular view of garden fertilizers inspired by Jerry Baker, the author of "Plants Are Like People."
As Mary Robson writes, "Standing in a garden center looking at fertilizer packages can be confusing. What to apply? When to apply it?" In this article she answers those questions about garden fertilizers. Interestingly, she takes issue with the popular view of garden fertilizers inspired by Jerry Baker, the author of "Plants Are Like People."
Gardening For All Seasons
Guide to perfect gardening with articles and tips for seasoned and novice gardeners from planning to composting, your local weather, special features, house plants and Monthly gardening calendar and recipes -- all at Gardening For All Seasons.
Guide to perfect gardening with articles and tips for seasoned and novice gardeners from planning to composting, your local weather, special features, house plants and Monthly gardening calendar and recipes -- all at Gardening For All Seasons.