Question: I had a remodeling project going on in the back of my house just before the government put limits on people working. The project is done, but the tractors, ...

Success with raised beds for gardening, landscaping, or a combination of both is quite easy. In the simplest form, you simply ...

Compacted soil has less air and is less porous than well-aerated, friable soil. This means it is harder for roots in compacted soil to grow and harder for those roots to get air.

In Stubbenbeck’s area, the soil has enough clay to be compacted to a good base. But 30 miles east of him, it’s a good idea to have the soil cored to know what’s under the site.

Spreading and raking in about ¼ to ½ inch of compost over the compacted areas (called topdressing) in both spring and fall over the course of several years can also help with heavy, compacted soil.

Good garden soil contains 30% to 50% sand, 30% to 50% silt, 20% to 30% clay and 5% to 10% organic water. The bacteria, fungi and worms in the soil produce substances that act like glue, binding ...