Fall is a great time to think about improving your soil’s health. We have all kinds of great resources at our finger tips this time of the year including leaf mulch, moisture, aged compost (hopefully you’ve been working on this), and cover crops. This is the time of year when your trees and perennial shrubs put their energy into their root systems. They have just spent the last growing season using up many of the nutrients in the soil they are growing in. In the natural world, say an … [Read more...] about It’s time to improve your soil’s health
soil
How weeds can help you understand your garden
As cultivators, we are constantly competing with mother nature for growing space. If a space in your yard is left bare, you can be certain that some type of weed is going to move in, if the conditions are in its favor. Weeds, just like cultivated plants, thrive in conditions that are favorable for them to be successful. By observing the most prevalent types of weeds growing in one area, we can get an idea of the soil’s pH, nutrition content, moisture, compaction and can even help identify the … [Read more...] about How weeds can help you understand your garden
Time to get the planting beds ready
The time is coming that we gardeners have been waiting for -- getting the planting beds ready. Start now and you'll have more time in season for the actual seeding and planting! Here's a checklist of things to do: Plan out what you're going to plant in each bed, taking into consideration putting plants together that require the same soil conditions. A simple diagram of each bed on a piece of paper will do. Check your soil pH in each bed. If needed, add amendments to each bed to raise … [Read more...] about Time to get the planting beds ready
Houseplant Care Series Pt. 3: Basic Soil Choices
Plants have adapted to wildly different environments and, to some extent, you should endeavor to mimic their native soil when deciding what mixture to use. You can also alter a soil mixture depending on where you plan to grow it and to better suit your watering routine. It's often a daunting task to look at the myriad number of soils and choose the right one for your particular houseplant. To get started, there are a few basic questions to ask yourself: What type of plant are you … [Read more...] about Houseplant Care Series Pt. 3: Basic Soil Choices
