Topic
The part that actually matters. · 21 guides
Buying guide Soil test kit types compared: probe meters, color kits, digital pH meters and mail-in lab tests, with what each measures, how accurate it is and what it costs.
September 13, 2026
Yes, you can compost weeds with roots if you sort them first. Annual roots go straight in. Perennial roots, rhizomes and seed heads need 140°F, drying or drowning.
September 13, 2026
Which cover crops suit a few home garden beds, how many ounces of seed to sow per 100 square feet, and how to end the crop in spring by cutting or tarping.
September 13, 2026
Add 1/4 to 1 inch of compost a year to an existing garden bed and 3 to 4 inches to a new one. Includes a volume chart by bed size, per-acre figures and manure rates.
September 13, 2026
Buying guide Peat moss vs coco coir compared on pH, water holding, rewetting, salts and sustainability, plus how coco peat and sphagnum moss differ from both.
September 13, 2026
Buying guide Perlite adds air and drainage. Vermiculite holds water and nutrients. Compare the two side by side, with mix ratios for seed starting and container potting mix.
September 13, 2026
Buying guide What a bulk bag of compost holds, how many small bags equal a cubic yard, how far a yard spreads, and when bags, a bulk bag or a loose load is the better buy.
July 12, 2026
Buying guide The best compost bin for a small backyard depends on what you compost. Compare tumblers, enclosed bins, 3-foot holding bins and worm bins by size, speed and pests.
July 12, 2026
Buying guide Pick a compost thermometer by probe length first: it has to reach the core. Then learn the 131 to 160°F target range, where to take readings and how to calibrate.
July 12, 2026
Buying guide The best soil amendments for raised beds compared: compost, aged manure, coir, peat moss, perlite and vermiculite, with how much of each to add and when.
July 12, 2026
Buying guide The best vermicomposting bin gives 1 square foot of surface per pound of weekly food scraps and is 8 to 20 inches deep. Compare tub, tray and flow-through bins.
July 12, 2026
The compost browns to greens ratio is two to three parts browns to one part greens by volume. See which materials count as each and how to fix a pile that is off.
July 12, 2026