1. Soil Types
Is the ground where you're starting a new garden clayey? If so, the poor drainage conditions characteristic of clay may spell disaster for your new plants. The situation can be corrected, but many beginning gardeners, lacking the necessary soil information, aren't even aware of the problem.
Don't let clay get in the way of your plans to model a dream garden! This article provides a brief introduction to inform you of what's going on down there. If you find that the earth has too much clay in it, use amendments (see below) to improve your drainage.
2. Soil pH
It is even more critical for beginning gardeners to access soil information regarding pH, i.e., how acidic or alkaline the ground is. That's because pH is invisible (only a test will reveal this tidbit of soil information). You could easily play around in the dirt your whole life and never realize that such a thing exists!
But invisible or not, pH has a lot to say about whether or not your new garden will prosper. Find out why in this resource.
3. Soil Amendments
The soil information I've offered so far may leave you with a sense of foreboding. It may seem that there's nothing but trouble lurking below the ground surface, just waiting to impede the growth of plants in your new garden. But here's the good news: You can use amendments to correct your problem whether that problem be too much clay or the wrong pH.
But what are "amendments"? Find out in the resource linked to here.
