The Difference Between Soil and Dirt
The meaning and usage of words often changes over time, but in some situations, words that are used interchangeably can have two (or more) distinctive meanings. Take “soil” and “dirt,”…
How to Revive Dead Soil
Photo: SChompoongam (Shutterstock) When I moved into my home, the front yard was gray and lifeless. The previous owners, in lieu of landscaping, had put a layer of rocks over…
The 7 Deadly Sins of Owning Houseplants
Photo: Ashley-Belle Burns (Shutterstock) Overwatering is the opposite of neglect, but it’s no less deadly. When I see an ailing plant, my first thought is, “It needs more water,” but…
How to Plant a ‘Fall Cover Crop’ This Fall to Protect Your Garden for Winter
Photo: Oleksandr_U (Shutterstock) When the season changes and your summer plants are gone, your soil begs for some sort of protection from the cold weather to come. Harsh winds, freezing…
How to Decode the Numbers on Bags of Fertilizer
Photo: MIA Studio (Shutterstock) If, like so many others, you first got into gardening during the pandemic, you’ve probably already figured out that it involves more than planting a few…