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 person empties a bucket filled with vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and other organic waste onto a pile in a wooden bin.

Soil Improvement

7 Ways to Turn Your Compost Pile

Compost piles are excellent for backyard gardeners who want to save money on soil amendments or upcycle excess waste. Turning piles speeds up decomposition, lets microbes breathe, and keeps rotting smells at bay. Join longtime composter Jerad Bryant and discover seven easy ways to turn your compost piles.

A close-up of hands lifting dark, crumbly organic material above a composter, with vibrant green grass and garden foliage blurred in the background.

Soil Improvement

How Hot Should My Compost Pile Be?

Is your hot compost pile feeling cold? Or does it feel too hot? No matter which end of the spectrum your pile is on, there are easy ways to correct its temperature. Join backyard gardener Jerad Bryant in learning exactly how hot our piles should be.

A person holding dark, rich organic matter with a few small green plants in the background.

Soil Improvement

How Fast Does Compost Turn Into Soil?

Compost typically decomposes from a month to a year, but you can make your own in as little as a week! How fast it decomposes depends on your garden conditions. Let’s break down your dirt with native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

In the gardener's hand, rice hulls appear as a handful of light, straw-colored flakes with a rough, chaffy texture, ready to be scattered across the garden soil.

Soil Improvement

How and Why to Use Rice Hulls in the Garden

If you’re always on the lookout for a more sustainable soil amendment or mulch, then you need to know more about rice hulls. They’re a food-safe byproduct that comes from processing rice, and they offer numerous benefits as both an amendment and as mulch. While other materials like perlite and peat are non-renewable or potentially harmful, this option is an environmentally-friendly choice. Plant biologist Emily Estep will explain the basics to get you started.

Close-up of rich, dark, finely textured earth, showcasing its readiness for planting or cultivation.

Soil Improvement

What is Well-Drained Soil? How to Assess Soil Drainage

Understanding soil drainage terms helps you select the right plants for the right locations. Many species prefer well-drained soil, but what is it exactly? We’ll cover how to assess your garden soil’s drainage so you can confidently garden, worry-free. Explore how to know your soil better alongside native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

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.