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Soil Building

Soil building encompasses many different things, as the soil is its own living and changing ecosystem. While it's possible to grow plants without soil, the vast majority of gardeners use it -- soil is everywhere in all of its myriad forms.

Here, we explain all things soil-based as well as the things that are used to improve that soil. Our writing team provides insight into not just soil types and textures, but also composting, cover cropping for soil improvement, mulching for the myriad of benefits it offers, and so many more things.

We'll explore different organic fertilizers and how they work, techniques like the Back To Eden or no-till methods of gardening, and even delve into the many forms of mulch that can be used to reduce erosion and maintain soil moisture.

Organic gardeners know full well the value of having good soil, and the interplay between organic matter and mineral inputs is key to guaranteeing that you have a living, beneficial, and healthy soil food web. To many, the soil is an entirely new frontier waiting to be explored... and so we'll explore it along with you, step by step.

With a little know-how, you too can improve your existing soil in the yard, learn which amendments are necessary or unnecessary in your situation, and optimize for the best outcome for your specific plant types.

Close-up of young tomato seedlings in a seed starter tray, possessing thin, hairy gray-pink stems and pairs of narrow, elongated cotyledons.

Fertilizer

Should You Fertilize Tomato Seedlings?

Your tomato seeds sprouted and they’re growing strong, but do they need any extra nutrients before they go in the ground? Former organic farmer Logan Hailey has all the information you need to properly fertilize tomato seedlings.

Homemade dark brown comfrey fertilizer in a white bucket, placed among blooming comfrey bushes with fuzzy green leaves featuring prominent veins, rising from thick, sturdy stems topped with clusters of delicate, bell-shaped purple flowers.

Fertilizer

How to Make Homemade Comfrey Fertilizer in 8 Steps

You can create a self-sustaining garden system by enriching the soil with organic materials and homemade fertilizers that fuel crops without requiring external inputs. Join soil expert and former organic farmer Logan Hailey to learn how to make homemade comfrey fertilizer.

A mound of decomposing plant material sits on grass with a shovel beside it.

Soil Building

How to Speed up Your Compost: 17 Strategies to Try

Composting is a great method for recycling organic matter. Instead of throwing food scraps, garden clippings, and fall leaves away, you can turn them into compost! If your pile is slow-acting, longtime composter Jerad Bryant shares these 17 strategies for speeding up the process.

A hand using a rake to spread smooth, multicolored river rocks across a garden bed.

Soil Improvement

10 Benefits and Drawbacks of Gravel Mulch

Gravel gardens are on the rise due to their water-wise qualities and clean aesthetic. Among the advantages of using gravel as mulch are disadvantages that impact plant health, depending on the situation. Weigh the pros and cons of gravel mulch with garden designer Katherine Rowe to determine the best fit for your garden.

A close-up of dark brown, crumbly material being scooped with a trowel.

Soil Improvement

5 Reasons To Try Peat-Free Soil Mix This Season

Peat-free soil mixes are becoming more readily available to improve soil health and lessen dependence on a renewable resource. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores reasons to look for peat-free alternatives to incorporate in seeding, containers, and beds this growing season.