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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.

          A close-up of a wooden bowl full of Sulfur, which is a bright, yellow, powdery substance often used in the garden to lower soil pH.

          Soil Building

          How to Lower Your Soil pH With Garden Sulfur

          If you have alkaline soils with a high pH, plants face the challenge of a lack of accessible nutrients. Amending with garden sulfur is an easy way to work towards optimal pH levels. If you hope to grow healthier ornamentals and edibles or encourage those bluest of blue hydrangea blooms, explore sulfur as an amendment with garden expert Katherine Rowe.

          A grape plant with fruits at the back, showing leaves turning yellow with green veins, as signs of lacking minerals and nutrients.

          Fertilizer

          What Is Chlorosis? Treating Iron Deficiency in Plants

          If your plants have yellow leaves with green veins, they’re likely suffering from chlorosis. Although there are numerous causes of this issue, iron deficiency is one of the most common. Farmer Briana Yablonski will further explain this issue and provide ways to fix it.

          A person wearing black gloves holding dark brown soil mixed with azomite fertilizer using two hands

          Fertilizer

          How to Use Azomite in the Garden

          Modern soils are depleted of trace minerals, which can reduce the vigor of our plants and the nutrient-density of our food. In this article, soil expert and former organic farmer Logan Hailey explains how to use Azomite to remineralize your soil.

          A close-up of a garden hand applying garden lime to the soil to raise the soil pH.

          Soil Improvement

          How to Raise Your Soil pH With Garden Lime

          If you have highly acidic soils, some plants will suffer due to a lack of accessible nutrients. Fortunately, amending with garden lime is an easy way to adjust pH levels. Most plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral pH levels. Tackle this common issue with garden expert Katherine Rowe to learn how to raise your pH with garden lime.

          Growing green sprouts of young Vicia villosa and wheat on an experimental farm field.

          Soil Improvement

          11 Nitrogen-Fixing Plants That Will Improve Your Garden Soil

          Nitrogen fixers are the superheroes of the garden world, adding available nitrogen to the soil for whatever you plant next, saving you money on fertilizer, and often acting as stellar cover crops that further suppress weeds and improve soil structure. Gardening enthusiast Emily Estep walks you through 11 nitrogen-fixing plants that will improve your garden soil with minimal effort.

          A bowl full of kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, eggshell, coffee grounds, is added to a composter to turn into bio fertilizer.

          Soil Improvement

          Compost Basics: How to Balance Greens and Browns

          The biggest confusion beginners face with compost is balancing nitrogen-rich inputs (greens) and carbon-heavy inputs (browns). In this article, garden expert and organic farmer Logan Hailey explains everything you need to know about balancing the carbon-nitrogen ratio for odor-free, quality home compost.