Up To 35% Off Garden Beds!

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 close-up of dark brown, crumbly material being scooped with a trowel.

Soil Improvement

5 Reasons To Try Peat-Free Soil Mix This Season

Peat-free soil mixes are becoming more readily available to improve soil health and lessen dependence on a renewable resource. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores reasons to look for peat-free alternatives to incorporate in seeding, containers, and beds this growing season.

Close-up of compact, square soil blocks with visible textured edges and fine particles pressed tightly together made from high-quality soil mix.

Soil Building

How to Make Your Own Soil Block Mix: Growing Medium Recipes to Try

For success with soil blocking, a nutritive potting mix suited to the seed-starting method is essential. With a few ingredients, making your own mix goes a long way, using materials that have multiple garden applications. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring core ingredients and rich variations to boost soil-blocked seedlings this season.

Small green sprouts with oval-shaped leaves growing in dark planting material.

Soil Improvement

The Ultimate Beginner Guide to Soil Blocking

Soil blocking is a rewarding, hands-on way to promote healthy seedlings while reducing material use and saving space. If you’re interested in this historic way of seed-starting, we’ve got the essentials covered. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores everything you need to start soil blocking this season.

Close-up of an open compost bin filled with bio waste, demonstrating how compost winter methods work in a snow-covered garden.

Soil Improvement

How to Compost in Winter: 7 Expert Tips

Winter frost doesn’t mean you have to quit composting! You can use some simple methods to get a pile working through the cold months. Learn how to compost in winter with these seven expert tips from native plant gardener Jerad Bryant.

Close-up of a hand in a blue glove conducting a soil test in a fall garden, with several test tubes containing different liquids placed on the soil.

Soil Improvement

9 Reasons You Should Test Your Soil in Fall

Now that the major growing season is coming to a close, your mind may be on cleaning up the garden, processing your last harvests, and raking up all the leaves. However, fall is also an excellent time to test your soil. This will give you plenty of time to make any adjustments needed before next year, balancing the nutrients and the pH level. Plant biologist Emily Estep will give you nine reasons why.

Pitchfork and gloves in a wheelbarrow full of compost to easily improve fall soil

Soil Improvement

9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Soil

Improving your soil is always a good use of time! It helps future plant species gain all the nutrients, moisture, and air they need to survive. It also boosts beneficial fungi, bacteria, and archaea belowground. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant and discover nine easy ways to amend your garden’s soil.

A pair of hands in yellow boots and gloves working with a small trowel to break up the brown, crumbly dirt in a raised wooden bed. A green bucket and metal watering can are placed beside the bed, and the surrounding area is neatly arranged with gravel.

Soil Improvement

7 Benefits of Amending Your Soil in the Fall

Autumn is an ideal time to amend soils. Why? Soil amendments decay during fall and winter to form fertile, rich, crumbly soils in spring. You’ll have plantable beds ready for vegetables, wildflowers, and fruits. Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant and learn the benefits of applying improvements now rather than in the spring.

A person in blue jeans and boots kneels down while inspecting the ground with a small gardening tool, surrounded by a grassy area and patches of green foliage.

Soil Improvement

13 Fall Soil Improvements You Can Apply Now

Autumn is the ideal time to add soil improvements. They’ll start to break down this season and continue working slowly during the cool months. In spring, you’ll enjoy fresh, crumbly dirt that’s prime and ready for new seedlings! Join native plant gardener Jerad Bryant to see the 13 fall soil amendments you should add today.

A bright yellow rake is leaning against a large pile of dry, curled brown foliage, resting on green grass under a tree in a sunlit garden.

Soil Improvement

Do Fall Leaves Make Good Compost?

Fall leaves are a nutrient-rich soil amendment, but do they make good compost? They do, but they’ll need extra care to morph into rich, crumbly soil. Learn how to turn fall leaves into beneficial compost with backyard composter Jerad Bryant.