Newswise — April 13, 2020 – Gardeners, are you eager for winter to lose its icy grip? There’s no time like the present to improve your garden knowledge! Soils Matter, Soil Science Society of America’s science-based blog, provides insights to starting off the garden season.
- First things first: start with good soil! A few simple at-home observations, paired with soil analysis from a lab, can help you keep up with your garden’s needs: soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/what-can-i-tell-by-looking-at-and-touching-my-soil/
- Digging a hole is simple, right? A little planning and better technique can give your plants the best chance at success: soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/is-there-actually-a-right-way-to-dig-a-hole-for-planting/
- And, if you have old seeds hanging around, you’ll want to test them first. Find out the keys to seed germination: sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2019/03/07/what-are-the-factors-that-determine-seed-germination/
- Having enough organic matter in your garden soil is important. And, once you get it there, how to keep carbon in your soil? Read here: soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2018/08/15/how-can-i-help-my-soil-hold-more-carbon/
- While you’re adding organic matter, learn more about natural soil amendments: sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2018/05/07/how-can-i-use-natural-materials-to-build-soil-fertility-in-my-garden/
- You may want to fertilize early in the season – but are you doing it in a manner that is safe for the environment? Timing and placement are key: soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2019/05/01/how-do-i-keep-more-of-the-nitrogen-in-my-soil/
- Finally, what should you think about before using fertilizers and pesticides? There’s a lot to consider before making your purchase: sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2018/04/07/what-should-i-consider-before-using-fertilizers-and-pesticides-at-home/
Soils Matter is a blog of the Soil Science Society of America. New blogs are posted on the 1st of and 15th of every month and are written by member scientists. Sustainable, Secure Food is a blog of written by members of the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. It publishes on the 7th and 22nd of every month.