Soil science - Fine Gardening
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…