Dig In
All soil is the same
Not all soil is the same! Soil is very diverse and these variations are a result of multiple factors, such as climate, parent material, topography, vegetation, and time. In the US there are over 20,000 different types of soils.
You can grow certain plants to add nutrients to your soil.
Yes, you can! There are a number of different plants that can be added to your garden for the purpose of adding nutrients and balancing your soil chemistry. A popular choice are plants in the legume/bean/pea family (ie. clover, crown vetch, sweet pea) as they are nitrogen fixers.
Compost doesn't only add nutrients to your soil, it also helps to retain water
Yes, it does! Research shows that when you add organic material to soil it can increase its ability to retain water. Each 1 percent increase in organic matter in the soil can help it hold about 20,000 more gallons of water per acre.
Soil is only brown
Not always! Soil has been found to exist in a multitude of colours including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink. The more unusual cool toned colours (blue, purple, green) have been found in wetlands.
If you don't use pesticides and herbicides your garden will be full of pests and weeds
No, you do not need pesticides and herbicides to keep your garden pest and weed free. There are plenty of insects that will go after garden pests (you can grow plants to attract them) and you can use ground covers (ie. clover, creeping thyme) to reduce weeds.
You can use vinegar to kill weeds without hurting your soil
Unfortunately, vinegar can negatively impact soil health. Vinegar is acidic, and its acetic acid content is what makes it effective in killing weeds. However, the acidity of vinegar can potentially harm beneficial soil microbes, disrupting the balance of the soil ecosystem.
Soil can die
As it is alive, soil can in fact die. This can be for a variety of reasons from the overapplication of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers to excessive tilling.
It is okay to walk on top of your garden as long as you are careful
Burying a banana peel in your garden is an easy way to add potassium to your soil
Unfortunately, this is not an easy way to add potassium to your soil. First, banana peels decompose very slowly, meaning that the potassium is not immediately available to plants. Additionally, as the peels decompose, they can temporarily alter the soil composition and attract pests, which can be detrimental to the plants.
Roughly, what percentage of Earth's species live in soil: 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%?
In 2023, a brand new study calculated that 59% of species on Earth live in/heavily rely on soil for survival. This was a massive increase from the previously estimated 25%. Additionally, only 1% of microorganism species in soil have actually been identified.
If you have a vegetable garden you should grow the same crops in the same spots every year
No, you should not! This increases the likelihood of pests and disease. It reduces the diversity of organic matter in the soil, damaging the overall health of the soil.
From this list, what can't you compost: fruits, vegetables, eggshells, nut shells, coal, leaves, grass clipping, paper, pet waste, oil.
Coal contains substances that can be harmful to plants. Pet waste might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses all of which could be harmful to plants. Oil (as well as grease, fats, and lard) can create odor problems and attract pests.