Soil Health - Page 2 of 26 - Fine Gardening
-
DesignLawn Replacements for the Southwest
With growing interest in waterwise gardening and water conservation, homeowners are looking for alternatives to water-hogging lawns, which are not always necessary or practical. Turfgrass can often be replaced by…
-
How-ToWhat’s the Best Mulch for Veggies? Pros and Cons to 6 Types of Mulch
Let’s face it: Mulching isn’t a glamorous job. It’s dusty, dirty, and can be downright backbreaking. But despite all the effort involved in the task, mulching your vegetable garden properly…
-
How-ToHow to Pick the Best Mulch for Your Mountain West Garden Beds
Since entering horticulture professionally over a decade ago, I’ve noticed a correlation on the Colorado Front Range between wood mulch (also called arborist chips) and water-wise gardens. A beautifully designed…
-
How-To5 Easy Ways to Test Your Garden Soil pH at Home
Most people know that soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Soils naturally have a wide range of pH values, with most ranging from…
-
ArticleLearn to Build Better Soil
A backyard is no place for a farm. My earliest vegetable gardens were small-scale imitations of large-scale farms. I rototilled the soil, spread bagged chemical fertilizer all around and built…
-
How-ToPine Needles, Oak Leaves, and Soil Acidity: What Does the Research Say?
In a recent Healthy Garden article, Paula Gross mentions research indicating that mulches of oak leaves and pine needles do not acidify the soil. In view of the tendencies of…
-
ArticleShould You Water Your Plants in Winter?
Those of us who have spent a few years (or more) in the American West know that winter here doesn’t look like winter in much of the country. As far…
-
How-To4 Ways to Get More Compost
My grandmother taught me that you cannot just take from a garden; you must always give back and care for the soil. This is a lesson I apply to any…
-
DesignTips for Creating a Drought-Tolerant Landscape
Drought-tolerant landscapes come in all shapes and sizes. From a large, expansive bed that runs the entire length of a property line to a small nook that bakes all day…
-
How-ToHealthy Soil Is at the Heart of a Thriving Garden
Soil is a complex structure made up of mineral solids and organic matter interwoven with aggregates and open pore spaces. The open spaces between soil particles are just as important…
Fine Gardening Magazine
