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Gardening Basics for Beginners
If you're new to gardening or just need a refresher, this is the best place to find advice on everything from how to plant seeds to what is propagation.| The Spruce
If you're new to gardening or just need a refresher, this is the best place to find advice on everything from how to plant seeds to what is propagation.| The Spruce
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What is vermiculite? Discover its top uses, plus how it is different from another soil amendment, perlite.| The Spruce
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Amanda Rose Newton is a board-certified entomologist and horticultural expert. She holds degrees in horticulture and entomology and has decades of experience in garden and pest control.| The Spruce
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Learn what NPK stands for on a fertilizer label. Determine how the numbers on a fertilizer bag and other ingredients may impact your garden.| The Spruce
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Meet the members of The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board and learn more about our process.| The Spruce
Learn about The Spruce's mission, meet the editorial team and find out how to get in touch.| The Spruce
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Mushroom compost, or mushroom soil, is a by-product of mushroom farming that can be used as a fertilizer and organic soil amendment for many plants.| The Spruce
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Potting soil should meet the needs of the specific plants, vegetables, or flowers in your pots or garden beds. We researched the best options.| The Spruce
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Despite their similarity, knowing the difference between vermiculite and perlite can pay off. Learn when it's better to use one rather than the other.| The Spruce
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Humus is decayed organic matter that is crucial for plant growth. Learn what humus consists of, how to make it, and how to add it to your garden soil.| The Spruce
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Are your tomatoes black on bottom? It's probably tomato blossom end rot (tomato end rot). Here's how to identify, prevent, and treat blossom end rot.| The Spruce
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Coir is a coconut byproduct that is a quickly renewable resource. It often comes in blocks that need to be hydrated before using in the garden.| The Spruce
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The term garden lime has nothing to do with fruit in a landscaping context, nor with Lyme disease. Learn what it means and how it's used.| The Spruce
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Peat moss, a soil amendment that retains water, is used in gardens and containers. Learn about its pros and cons and more sustainable alternatives.| The Spruce
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Create a home for your houseplants with a quality potting soil. Our picks work as a base or a specific formula for succulents, Monsteras, and more.| The Spruce
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Here's how to test your soil pH using vinegar and baking soda. Other home methods to test for acidity or alkalinity include test strips and a pH meter.| The Spruce
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You can easily and inexpensively get started with vermiculture by making your own worm bin with just three 5-gallon buckets, a lid, and a drill| The Spruce
A soil amendment is any material added to a soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration and structure. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots.| Extension
