soil

How to design a garden | Outdoor & Garden

Suss out the soil

Good soil is crucial for a healthy, beautiful garden. There are many different types – chalk, clay, sand, peat and loam – with loam the best of all. Knowing which type of soil you have will help you decide which plants you can grow, as well as how well they’ll grow once planted. It can also be important for landscaping projects, as some are harder to work with than others.

We also recommend testing your soil to find out its pH (the acidity). Some plants prefer ericaceous soil (acidic) while others like lime (alkaline) soil. And

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Turning a strip of no-man’s land into garden, curb appeal

You know that boring strip of grass — or weeds — between the street and the sidewalk that technically belongs to your city or town but whose care ultimately falls to you?

It goes by many names: median, verge, tree belt, boulevard, parkway, utility strip, parking strip — and my favorite, the hell strip, which best describes the growing conditions there.

This slice of no-man’s land is typically plagued by compacted soil, tree roots, exhaust fumes from passing cars, and “gifts” from neighborhood dogs. But with a little effort, the hell strip can become a heavenly garden addition

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COLUMN: Fall garden planning should start now | News

Many people say that food grown at home tastes far better than what you can get at a grocery store.

Some may be interested in having their own garden, but it could be an overwhelming task if you don’t have a plan.

Factors to be considered are adequate soil preparation, varieties to use, and obtaining the seeds. Some crops do better when you start seeds earlier, and then transplant them into the garden. T

his can be done growing seeds in partial shade with insect protection.

To figure out when you should plant this garden is dependent on how

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