Amanda Blum is a freelancer who writes about smart home technology, gardening, and food preservation. Previously, Amanda has worked as a technology strategist specializing in problem solving and ...

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Colleen Hagerty Colleen Hagerty is a writer focused on emergency preparedness.

Wildfire survivors across Los Angeles County are discovering that the most dangerous consequence from a wildfire isn’t always visible. Lead, arsenic, and other toxic metals could be hiding deep in ...

The question I receive most frequently from vegetable gardeners: How much fertilizer should I apply? The second most frequently asked question: How can I get better vegetable yields in my garden? Both ...

Now that we have experienced the first frost of the season, and the growing season for most garden and home landscape plants has come to an end, we as gardeners tend to start thinking about things we ...

Anyone who has picked up an instructional gardening book has gleaned that it might be important to test your soil’s pH before embarking on any major planting project—but too often gardeners skip this ...

Soil decides the fate of every garden long before the first tomato ripens or the first flower opens. Plants pull nutrients ...

Coming up with a good soil blend for your plants is a lot like creating a recipe. You wouldn’t expect to succeed with a recipe with no idea how much of each ingredient to add. A soil test kit allows ...

Before applying fertilizer or any other soil amendment, it's a good idea to see what the soil already contains. That way you won't be inadvertently increasing a nutrient the soil already has plenty of ...

Soil is more than dirt—it’s a secret financial advisor hiding under your feet. A garden or farm may look fine from the surface, but unseen imbalances in nutrients, pH levels, or soil composition can ...

When it comes to growing cotton, success starts before a single seed is planted. Many growers focus on managing cotton after it has emerged, but successful management begins below the surface and ...