Successful spring gardening starts long before the plants go into the ground. In east Idaho, gardeners commonly work with ...

Soil testing could not be more important preceding tasks like establishing a new garden, diagnosing plant problems, determining fertilizer needs — and much more. But some situations don't require the ...

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Understanding the texture of your garden soil is crucial for successful planting and gardening. Soil texture affects water retention, drainage, aeration, and nutrient ...

Good soil is the starting point for a garden that grows well. It feeds your plants, holds water, and helps roots grow strong. If the soil is off, even the best seeds can struggle. Many gardeners focus ...

Most gardeners know that success depends on many factors: You can’t grow a sun-loving plant in a shady area, for example. And a shrub that loves wet places won’t do well in dry soil. But the most ...

I often mention my veg patch’s clay soil in this column, and that’s because soil type affects what we grow and how. Getting to know your soil is an essential part of becoming a great grower of edible ...

Before planting in the spring, a soil test will give you a snapshot of what your garden needs – taking the guesswork out of fertilizer rates. With the growing season approaching, now is the perfect ...

In my 40 years of teaching and consulting, one of the biggest and most frustrating problems I continually encounter is when so called “landscape professionals” and homeowners continue to apply annual ...

Testing your soil is easy. If you do it you will get a detailed soil analysis. (Dreamstime/TNS) Buy Photo I have tended my Iowa garden for nearly 40 years now, but it was a persistent problem with my ...

The foundation of any happy garden is the soil. In fact, some might argue that a gardener’s job isn’t to grow plants but to cultivate healthy soil. In our desert, we are lucky to have plenty of ...