In order to grow successfully, your plants need good soil. This includes the right drainage, pH balance, and conditions. Without good soil, valuable time and investment will probably be lost. Since most soils need some amount of improvement, here are some things you can do to help them along. By Jenna Remilard |
Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. The number you get when you test your soil's pH can tell you whether your plants are likely to thrive in your garden spot or not. Luckily, if the answer is no, there are ways to change your soil's pH and make your garden into a more hospitable environment for your vegetables, flowers and lawn. By Tammy Biondi |
Soil texture plays an important role in the success of your garden. Learn what you can do to identify your garden soil texture. By Tammy Biondi |
Mysterious crop failures, stunted, withered plants and insect infestations can all be symptoms of a garden soil in need of some help. A soil test is an excellent tool for assessing the health of your soil and will help you develop a soil fitness plan for your organic garden. By Tammy Biondi |
If you are working against the pH in your soil, all your gardening efforts could be wasted. Your soil pH may determine which plant species thrive and which do not. By Kim Willis |
The location and preparation of your garden site is the most important piece of your gardening puzzle. Ideally, a garden site should be level, have full sun, good drainage and loamy, fertile soil. By Tammy Biondi |
A soil pH meter can quickly and accurately provide the soil pH of your yard or garden. Designed like an "instant read" thermometer, a soil pH meter is typically a battery-operated, hand held device. By Gene Rodriguez, III |
Soil conditioners are additives that make beneficial changes to the dirt in your yard or garden. By adding certain conditioners to the soil, you can alter the soil pH level of your garden to make it more hospitable to your plants. By Gene Rodriguez, III |
Several methods exist for testing the pH of soil including: manual tests, sending samples to a lab or county extension and soil pH meters. A soil pH meter is a hand-held, battery-operated probe that is placed in the soil to read the pH of the test material. By Gene Rodriguez, III |
Some plants require a very narrow soil pH range to thrive. With the results of a soil pH test kit, you can correct your pH problems and help your plants thrive. By Gene Rodriguez, III |
