Person adding soil backfill to a pine tree sapling - Anastasiia Krivenok/Getty Images When it's time to prep your yard's soil for planting a tree, grabbing some compost may seem like an obvious step.

There is a difference between mulching and amending the soil. Mulching involves placing a material such as pine straw, leaves or pine bark on top of the soil. Amending the soil implies the ...

For years I have been recommending that when you plant trees, shrubs, bulbs, flowers or a vegetable garden it is important to amend the soil with organic matter, either compost or peat moss. A recent ...

It’s easy to take soil for granted, but what an impact it has on our trees, shrubs, lawns and gardens. Soil is the main vehicle by which plant roots absorb water and nutrients, and it keeps plants ...

We’ve talked about the various ways leaves can be repurposed to help enrich your soil and encourage pollinators, but what about our garden trimmings and all that discarded food we tend to throw away?

Composting can be easy, but even "low-maintenance" methods have a hidden side — expect effort, environmental baggage, and a ...

January is a great time for Marin County gardeners to prepare raised vegetable beds for the upcoming growing season. Amending the soil in winter months ensures that the beds will provide vegetables ...

Brown compost materials are the carbon-rich backbone that lets your pile heat up, break down efficiently, and ultimately ...

When is soil more than just dirt? When you want to grow healthy plants in your yard and garden, the soil is as important a factor as are water and sunlight. You can improve your soil’s ability to ...