CORVALLIS – Adding organic matter is the best way to improve nearly all kinds of soils. If you’re unsure if your soil needs amendments, take note if it dries and cracks in summer, drains slowly or is ...

Composting is an easy way to turn everyday food scraps and yard waste into something useful. Instead of tossing organic material in the trash, you can recycle it into a nutrient-rich soil amendment ...

Fall is a perfect time to consider composting. As our days get cooler and shorter, deciduous trees like oaks, maples, and sweetgums will begin to shed their leaves. The swamp chestnut oak in my front ...

Making your own compost (or “black gold”) is a prized skill among home gardeners, who use the nutrient-rich soil additive to boost their outdoor plants as well as their indoor gardens. It might seem ...

Healthy soil builds the foundation of every thriving garden, yet most households toss away powerful soil boosters every ...

Composting involves decomposing organic materials to create nutrient-rich soil. A compost pile needs a balance of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Maintaining proper moisture, ...

Learn effective home composting techniques and transform kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost. Enhance your garden and ...

Grow healthier plants and reduce food waste by starting a compost pile. Learn what to compost, what to avoid, and the simple tools you’ll need.

Healthy soil is the key to a great garden. As young plants break out of their seeds, they dig their roots deep into the ground looking for nutrients. That’s where composting comes in. Composting is a ...

Learn how to build a garden compost system, choose a suitable method, manage greens and browns, control moisture and airflow, and know when it’s ready.

Composting promises rich, dark soil that plants love, but when the pile refuses to heat up, frustration sets in fast. That cold, sluggish mound looks innocent, but beneath the surface, decomposition ...