Improving Your Soil: A Practical Guide to Soil Management For the Serious Home Gardener by Keith Reid

Improving Your Soil: A Practical Guide to Soil Management For the Serious Home Gardener by Keith Reid

Valuable advice from an expert in soil science

Intended for both small- and medium-sized gardens, Improving Your Soil reveals the steps to take to achieve the perfect soil in which to grow plants With clear and specific directions on how to amend poor soil, modify mediocre earth, aerate compacted topsoil and substrates as well as test pH levels, this book enables any gardener to nurture their plants and promote more abundant growth

The features that indicate good soil include proper structure and nutrients that encourage healthy plant growth Soil in good tilth is loamy, nutrient-rich and friable because it has an optimal mixture of sand, clay and organic matter that prevents severe compaction Improving Your Soil shows gardeners how to improve the soil in their gardens to encourage good seed bedding and a strong root system for proper nutrient disbursement throughout various soil depths Topics in the book include:

• Providing the right amount of water for plants
• The microscopic world of soils
• Crop rotations
• Types of compost and how to make good compost
• Managing soils to minimize pest and disease problems
• Overcoming common nutrient deficiencies
• Organic vs mineral fertilizers

The detailed information is complemented with line drawings, diagrams and illustrations that demonstrate various soil issues and how to resolve common problems With information on remedying specific problems with particular plants, Improving Your Soil will be an often-consulted resource for all gardeners

Keith Reid is a soil scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where he assesses and advises growers on soil challenges.