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New articles
This page lists the guide's articles on soil in date order. Each comes with a short description and a note on who it is for and why. If you have been here before, start at the top: the newest entries come first. Dates show the day an article was prepared. Topic tags help you quickly find what relates to your question: soil composition, soil types, acidity or working with organic matter.
Only finished articles go into the feed. We keep drafts and promises to ourselves until they can be opened and read.
Reference
A glossary of terms on soil composition, soil properties and soil care practices.
Why it helps: Explains the words used in the articles.
Guide sections
A map of topics: composition, fertility, water and air, soil problems.
Why it helps: Shows where to look for the answer to your question.
Archive
Published articles arranged by date and topic, plus a note about the old address.
Why it helps: Lets you see everything published in one place.
How to make compost that doesn't rot
Seven steps with illustrative examples, common mistakes, alternatives and a checklist.
Why it helps: Helps you get crumbly compost without a sour smell.
Soil in a weekend (in Russian)
Six steps to getting to know your soil yourself, plus a table of the signs of different soil types.
Why it helps: Shows you what kind of ground you are dealing with.
Article collections
Reading paths for your first season, heavy clay and sandy soil.
Why it helps: Helps you read in a sensible order rather than at random.
Questions and answers
Twelve short answers about soil composition, compost, mulch, green manure, acidity and fertilisers.
Why it helps: Quickly clears up a gardener's most common doubts.
See also
- Collections
Reading paths: your first season on the plot, heavy clay, and sandy soil that won't hold water.
- Archive
All articles by date and topic, plus a note about the old address on this domain.
- Guides
How to make compost that doesn't turn into a smelly mess: steps, mistakes and a checklist. Plus the article catalogue.
- Sections
Four topics: soil composition and types, fertility and organic matter, water and air in the soil, and common soil problems.
Sources
- Chernozemns guide articles
This article reflects the general understanding of soil science as of the date it was prepared. Every plot has its own soil, so before making big changes to how you look after it, it is worth having a soil test done and reading the label of any product you plan to apply carefully.