Compost & Soil Preparation

Good gardeners grow good soil. It's the soil that grows the garden. 

 

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Beads of water on a green leaf, Canva image
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Watering Hydrophobic Soil

Garden Help > How To Many potting soils become hydrophobictending to repel waterwhen they dry out, and are difficult to re-wet. Gardeners may see water draining out the bottom of a pot and assume that means that the soil is saturated.
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Mulch

Mulch is material placed on top of soil to cover and protect it, improve soil structure and fertility, and enhance the areas overall appearance.
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Home & Garden

A collection of tips and informant to improve your home garden's soil.
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Compost

Composting is the process of turning kitchen and yard waste and other organic materials into a decomposed soil amendment. It is a natural process that provides beneficial microbes and is a key ingredient in organic gardening and farming.
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Central Sierra | Master Gardeners | February Gardening Tips

Above 2000 ft. : prune deciduous fruit trees, cane berries Below 2000 ft.: prune grapes, roses, crepe myrtle. Paint trunks of bare root and young fruit trees to prevent borers and protect from sunburn. Use interior white latex paint with equal amounts of water and apply generously.
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Other Soil Amendments

Credit: UC ANR A soil amendment is any material added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration, and structure. They can also be used to modify soil pH. There are lots of different materials available you can use to improve your soil.
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Common Soil Problems

George Becker, Pexels Unhealthy soil causes poor plant performance. Correct soil deficiencies in your garden before you plant.
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Compost & Other Soil Amendments

Is your garden soil not quite what you want it to be? Need to make some improvements? Soil amendments may be a solution. Before making any additions or changes to your soil, its good to know what soil amendments are and how they may work in your soil.
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Benefits of Compost

Compost benefits the garden as well as the environment. Photo: Pixabay.com The process of composting is good for your garden and for the environment. Home composting allows gardeners to recycle organic material while conserving landfill space and reducing reliance on fossil fuel.
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How To Use Compost

Compost is multi-purpose. It can be used as mulch, topdressing, soil amendment, or as an organic fertilizer. Adding compost to the garden is one of the best ways to improve soil and support plant health.
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Source URL: https://oc4h.ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-monterey-santa-cruz-counties/collection/compost-soil-preparation