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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties

Compost & Soil Preparation

Good gardeners grow good soil. It's the soil that grows the garden. 

 

Beads of water on a green leaf, Canva image
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Watering Hydrophobic Soil

Garden Help > How To Many potting soils become hydrophobictending to repel waterwhen they dry out, and are difficult to re-wet. Gardeners may see water draining out the bottom of a pot and assume that means that the soil is saturated.
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Banner compost A
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Other Soil Amendments

Credit: UC ANR A soil amendment is any material added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration, and structure. They can also be used to modify soil pH. There are lots of different materials available you can use to improve your soil.
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Vegetables
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Home & Garden

A collection of tips and informant to improve your home garden's soil.
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Soil in bags for testing.
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Getting the Dirt on Soil Testing

June 18, 2024
By Jim Farr
Get the dirt on soil testing for Alameda County gardens. Learn pH levels, nutrient analysis, sampling methods & how to interpret results effectively.
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