Soil science - Fine Gardening

  • handful of biochar
    How-To

    What Is Biochar, and Is It Really Good for the Garden?

    While biochar is by no means new, it is relatively new to the world of horticulture as a mainstream soil amendment. But what is it exactly? Biochar is a substance…

  • How-To

    The Science of Garden Soil Health: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Garden Growing

    Beneath our feet lies a vibrant yet under-appreciated ecosystem. Far more complex than mere dirt, soil is a matrix of mineral particles, organic matter, living organisms, water, and air. Scientists…

  • Article

    Best Plants for Cover Crops

    Typical cover crops are annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials (three to five years). Each has its pros and cons. Here are a few of my favorite plants to use as…

  • Article

    How To Get Rid of Cover Crops

    Selecting a cover crop should be a thoughtful process that takes into account the end (how you’ll get rid of it) before you even plant the seeds. Yes, you want…

  • How-To

    How to Use Cover Crops to Improve Soil

    Productive vegetable gardening is all about soil fertility. The underlining principles of maintaining healthy soil are keeping the soil covered as much as possible, disturbing the soil as little as…

  • plant with roots showing in dirt
    How-To

    Put the Life Back into Your Soil

    For many decades, soil science focused on the physical and chemical properties of the earth beneath our feet. Researchers explored the importance of key plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,…