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.

A man preparing to do fall lawn fertilizing, pouring the substance into a spreader to feed the lawn properly

Fertilizer

Fall Lawn Feeding: 7 Fertilizing Tips

Fertilizing your lawn this fall will help it produce healthy, vigorous growth next spring. When and how to feed the lawn depends on the type of grasses you have and how cold your garden gets in the winter. Join professional landscaper Jerad Bryant to discover these seven expert tips for fertilizing the lawn in the fall.

A strawberry plantation shows rows of plants growing with straw serving as organic mulch and black plastic sheets as synthetic mulch, covering the soil for protection and moisture retention.

Mulch

Organic vs. Synthetic Mulch: Which is Best For Your Yard?

Not all mulches are created equal! Some work better than others for specific yard projects. Which type to use, organic or synthetic, depends on your growing goals and your garden’s setup. Learn which is best for your yard alongside backyard gardener Jerad Bryant.

A gardener tosses fresh vegetable scraps into a compost container in the garden, illustrating practical fall compost tips for enriching soil.

Composting

Fall Composting Tips

Now’s the time to compost! Debris is abundant, the weather is mild, and microbes are active. Composting is a great way to reduce your waste output, and it’ll help you save money on mulch and soil during the growing season. Follow these fall composting tips from experienced composter Jerad Bryant.

An overhead and close-up shot of a hand trowel filled with organic compost, placed along fallen dead leaves, showcasing fall fertilization

Fertilizer

Fall Fertilization: What Your Garden Really Needs Now

Gardens need nutrients to thrive, but when’s the right time to fertilize? Though spring is generally the best season for feeding, you can fertilize your plants in the fall, with a few exceptions. Learn what your garden really needs now with seasoned grower and former landscaper Jerad Bryant.

A small rat pest nibbling on food scraps amid decomposing organic matter in a compost heap.

Composting

How To Prevent Pests in Your Compost Pile

Compost piles should be full of bugs! Composting relies on fly larvae, worms, and microbes that convert decaying organic matter into humus. Other pests, like raccoons and rats, are not good for compost. Join longtime composter Jerad Bryant and learn how to prevent these critters from raiding your piles.

A person holding a potted conifer and fertilizer to fertilize plants August, doing so while wearing gloves with other plants appearing in the background

Fertilizer

7 Plants That Need a Boost of Fertilizer in August

While fertilizing in August isn’t the protocol for all plants, certain specimens benefit from a boost after a long season of active growth. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores select garden plants to fertilize this month as we look ahead to the cool season.