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Improving your soil : a practical guide to soil management for the serious home gardener / Keith Reid.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Buffalo, New York : Richmond Hill, Ontario : Firefly Books (U.S.) Inc. ; Firefly Books Ltd., 2014Description: 272 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 1770852263 (pbk.)
  • 9781770852266 (pbk.) :
Subject(s):
Contents:
Seasons of the soil -- Getting started : what type of soil do you have? -- What is soil, and why is it important? -- Different soils, different challenges -- Soil texture : the bones of your soil -- Soil structure : the skeleton of your soil -- Soil water -- Irrigation basics for gardens -- A little bit of soil chemistry -- How soil holds nutrients -- Soil life and soil organic matter -- Harnessing biological cycles for our benefit -- Feeding your plants -- Sustaining the land -- Glossary of soil terms -- Appendix I. Selected laboratories for testing garden soils -- Appendix II. Agricultural and horticultural extension resources -- Appendix III. Chemical symbols and formulas.
Summary: Intended for both small and medium-size gardens, Improving Your Soil reveals the steps to take to achieve the perfect soil base in which to grow plants. With directions on amending poor soil, modifying mediocre earth, aerating compacted topsoil and substrates, and testing pH levels, this book enables gardeners to nurture their plants and promote more abundant growth. The features of good soil include proper structure and nutrients that encourage healthy plant growth. Soil in "good tilth" is loamy, nutrient-rich and friable because it has an optimal mixture of sand, clay and organic matter that prevents severe compaction. Improving Your Soil shows gardeners how to improve the soil in their garden to encourage good seed bedding and a strong root system for proper nutrient disbursement throughout various soil depths.
List(s) this item appears in: Seed Library Reads
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Shelving location Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction Adult Display - Second Floor 635.0489 R356 Spring Plant Swap - May 2024 Checked out 06/03/2024 33111007558964
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Valuable advice from an expert in soil science.

Intended for both small- and medium-sized gardens, Improving Your Soil reveals the steps to take to achieve the perfect soil in which to grow plants. With clear and specific directions on how to amend poor soil, modify mediocre earth, aerate compacted topsoil and substrates as well as test pH levels, this book enables any gardener to nurture their plants and promote more abundant growth.

The features that indicate good soil include proper structure and nutrients that encourage healthy plant growth. Soil in "good tilth" is loamy, nutrient-rich and friable because it has an optimal mixture of sand, clay and organic matter that prevents severe compaction. Improving Your Soil shows gardeners how to improve the soil in their gardens to encourage good seed bedding and a strong root system for proper nutrient disbursement throughout various soil depths. Topics in the book include:

Providing the right amount of water for plants The microscopic world of soils Crop rotations Types of compost and how to make good compost Managing soils to minimize pest and disease problems Overcoming common nutrient deficiencies Organic vs. mineral fertilizers.

The detailed information is complemented with line drawings, diagrams and illustrations that demonstrate various soil issues and how to resolve common problems. With information on remedying specific problems with particular plants, Improving Your Soil will be an often-consulted resource for all gardeners.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Seasons of the soil -- Getting started : what type of soil do you have? -- What is soil, and why is it important? -- Different soils, different challenges -- Soil texture : the bones of your soil -- Soil structure : the skeleton of your soil -- Soil water -- Irrigation basics for gardens -- A little bit of soil chemistry -- How soil holds nutrients -- Soil life and soil organic matter -- Harnessing biological cycles for our benefit -- Feeding your plants -- Sustaining the land -- Glossary of soil terms -- Appendix I. Selected laboratories for testing garden soils -- Appendix II. Agricultural and horticultural extension resources -- Appendix III. Chemical symbols and formulas.

Intended for both small and medium-size gardens, Improving Your Soil reveals the steps to take to achieve the perfect soil base in which to grow plants. With directions on amending poor soil, modifying mediocre earth, aerating compacted topsoil and substrates, and testing pH levels, this book enables gardeners to nurture their plants and promote more abundant growth. The features of good soil include proper structure and nutrients that encourage healthy plant growth. Soil in "good tilth" is loamy, nutrient-rich and friable because it has an optimal mixture of sand, clay and organic matter that prevents severe compaction. Improving Your Soil shows gardeners how to improve the soil in their garden to encourage good seed bedding and a strong root system for proper nutrient disbursement throughout various soil depths.

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