Techniques

A red worm compost bin is a great – and easy – way to recycle certain food waste and improve garden soil. Just add your scraps and let the wonder worms do the rest until your compost is ready for harvesting. (The process is so simple, a child can do it!)

Soil needs to be pampered before you plant your fall garden. Learn how to care for your soil, as well as what amendments to use.

Amending your garden soil requires some digging, but it’s a worthwhile (and necessary) task to ensure a healthy garden and harvest. Here are the easy step-by-step instructions to incorporating fertilizers and amendments into your soil.

Do you have too many autumn leaves and no room for a regular compost pile? Bury your problem! Digging a compost pit is an easy way to dispose of raked leaves and other yard waste without having to layer.

Double-digging your planting bed is the best way to ready your soil for planting, add soil amendments and fertilize. Learn how to prepare a garden bed for planting by understanding soil type and various organic amendments, as well as how to double-dig a bed.

When raked and used properly, those fallen leaves on the lawn can provide at least two useful materials for your garden. Turn your fallen leaves into a growing gift – learn the quick, easy and affordable way to make leaf mulch and leaf mold.

Applied after planting, a layer of mulch does more than just provide a polished look to a garden. This beneficial material helps keep weed seeds from germinating, insulates plant roots and conserves water. Learn the easy steps to properly applying mulch to your trees, shrubs and perennials!

Mulch isn’t just for trees and shrubs. Use this beneficial material around your annuals, too, to limit weed growth and keep your blooming beds looking their best. Learn three methods for applying mulch around your annuals, and pick which one works best for you and your garden.

Composting is a basic skill all gardeners should learn. So is raking. If you’re faced with a mountain of leaves every autumn, a passive composting system may be the best option to combine both skills – not to mention a great way to help your garden!

There’s more to healthy soil than having the proper nutrients. Texture and drainage play important roles in having a thriving garden, too. Learn how to perform an easy percolation test to check how fast (or slow) your soil drains, as well as how to fix potential problems.

Learn how to make compost in much less time than with traditional methods.

Healthy soil means a healthy lawn. But you don’t need laboratory help to determine your soil’s quality. Many garden centers and nurseries sell do-it-yourself soil test kits. Learn why testing is so important, as well as tips on how to properly collect a soil sample from your yard.

A soil sample analysis is your gardening road map to maximum plant growth. Learn how to collect and submit a soil sample.

Healthy soil means a healthy garden (and harvest). But you don’t need laboratory help to determine your soil’s quality. Many garden centers and nurseries sell do-it-yourself soil test kits. Learn why testing is so important, as well tips on how to properly perform a soil test at home.