{"id":7453,"date":"2018-07-27T16:14:21","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T20:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/?p=7453"},"modified":"2025-10-18T09:19:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T13:19:16","slug":"guide-to-soil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2018\/07\/guide-to-soil.html","title":{"rendered":"The New Gardener’s Essential Guide to Soil"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can’t garden without soil. Yet most people take it for granted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Guide to Soil offers everything you need to know about soil tests, soil health,<\/a> composting, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Why bother learning about soil?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Good soil grows great plants. Soil health is perhaps the most important thing to learn in the world of gardening. Soil nurtures, sustains, supports and provides everything plants need for their growth (except for sunlight of course).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, you can grow plants in water solutions. Hydroponics fascinates many people. I can’t stand it. Give me dirt, soil, good old-fashioned mud, the teeming food web seething under the soil. It’s my kind of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s the difference between dirt and soil?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I started working at a garden center, I mistakenly called soil “dirt.” You should have seen the look on the face of the expert gardener in front of me. Ouch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s a big difference between dirt and soil. Although we use the terms interchangeably in everyday conversation, soil is a natural resource composed of minerals, organic material, water and air. It’s essential for plant growth and provides nutrients and a suitable environment for plants to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, dirt is nutrient poor and doesn’t support plant growth. Dirt can mean debris and infertile elements, too. Soil gives life; dirt can be what’s left over after life is gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All About Soil <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Work Wet Soil<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil for Container Vegetable Gardens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with Your Soil<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Is Soil Important?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Aeration?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil Test Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting Your Soil Professionally Tested<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Get a Soil Test Done in the Fall?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Soil pH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Composting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winter Composting: Is It Too Cold to Add to the Compost Pile?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worm Composting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trench Composting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make Compost<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Resources About Soil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What Is Soil<\/a>? – US Department of Agriculture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil Organic Matter<\/a> – Cornell University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Secrets of Soil<\/a> – Smithsonian Institution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You can’t garden without soil. Yet most people take it for granted. This Guide to Soil offers everything you need to know about soil tests, soil health, composting, and more.  Why bother learning about soil? Good soil grows great plants. Soil health is perhaps the most important thing to learn in the world of gardening….<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1254],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7453","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-how-to-garden","7":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nThe New Gardener's Essential Guide to Soil - Home Garden Joy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This handy guide to soil offers information on soil tests, soil health, soil types, composting and more. 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