GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Understanding the texture of your garden soil is crucial for successful planting and gardening. Soil texture affects water retention, drainage, aeration, and nutrient ...

A soil test should be performed before adding amendments willy-nilly. For example, Epsom salt for roses must be added with care.

Have you ever watered your garden and noticed the water takes a long time to drain or percolate through the soil? You might want to investigate your soil texture. Anthony Simerlink is a University of ...

True gardeners rarely refer to soil as simply dirt. They understand the difference between the stuff you dig up in your backyard versus the "black gold" that consists of compost, manure, decomposed ...

Salts are compounds formed when positively charged cations such as sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺) and potassium (K⁺) combine with negatively ...

HERMISTON — In the summer, homeowners whose lawn and garden soil is sandy often lament that their gardens and lawn require more watering than those growing in finer soil. Actually it’s a myth that ...

Water evaporates from plant leaves through minuscule holes called stomata. At a global scale, this process — called transpiration — is a key component of the terrestrial water cycle. When soil is ...

Add beautiful winter interest to your garden with these perennial plants.