Early spring is a great time to improve the soil in your yard. At Sierra Nursery we are strong advocates for organic gardening; so one of our favorite sayings is "Feed the soil - not the plants!" Spring is a time when we change the plants in annual flower and vegetable beds and add to the soil as well as a good time to mulch around plants for the coming warmer weather. It is also a good time to reevaluate your growing areas and improve the nutrient levels and texture of the soil. Mulching at any time of the year is going to make a tremendous difference for your plants. Fir and redwood based products are referred to as compost, mulch, planting mix and/or soil amendment. All of these terms have their own definitions, but folks have been using these names interchangeably for a long time. You can buy a bag of compost, mix it with native soil and use it as a planting mix. Or spread it around the roots of a plant and it becomes mulch or a top dressing. There are many products available all with different ingredients. Take a good look at the label before you buy. Making your own compost is a great way to recycle yard and kitchen waste. An equal amount of dry and moist ingredients and something to get them “cooking” is the simple definition of composting. Making your own compost can be as easy or as involved an activity as you choose. There is no quick fix for problem soils. It takes time. Good soil texture is a balance of minerals, organic material, air and water. Clay, sand, decomposed granite and bulldozed soils are all mostly mineral in content and need organic materials to add nutrients and to activate the beneficial microbes, fungi and enzymes that are essential for plant life. As organic materials decompose they produce natural agents that bind particles together to create a balanced texture. As the soil improves, micro-organisms go to work and begin to multiply. Micro-organisms help turn fertilizer components into forms that plants can access more readily. Using organic fertilizers instead of synthetics will also improve the soil. Organic fertilizers will help speed up the whole process of microbial and compost action. Fish based organic fertilizers tend to break down at a slower, regular rate. This gives soil and plants time to incorporate the nutrients more efficiently. Not only do these fertilizers feed your plants, they feed the soil! -Janet Simkins