Soils and gardening

Soils and gardening

Case studies showing how important soil conditions are for gardening.

Gardening brings soil science down to a personal scale. The case studies here cover peat-free growing, the benefits of peat-free compost, practical ways to improve garden soil, seasonal projects such as growing pumpkins, building raised beds for schools and gardens, and even recipes for mixing your own growing media.

Good gardening starts with understanding what is in your plot — its texture, fertility, drainage and pH. Small changes, such as adding organic matter or avoiding peat extraction from fragile bog habitats, can make a real difference to plant health and to the wider environment.

Everyone can enjoy gardening! Perhaps you are lucky enough to have a garden. If not, there are plenty of opportunities to rent allotments, create raised beds or develop windowbox displays.

Perhaps your school has a garden? If not, the Soil-Net activities section offers lots of practical advice and suggestions for how to develop and manage one. Use the links above to explore individual topics in more detail.