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Beautiful Gardens with Less Water and Chemicals

Build healthy soil to create a healthy, easier-to-care-for garden that needs less water and chemicals. Adding compost and using mulch helps the soil hold water and nutrients, and helps plants grow deep roots, resist diseases, and look good year-round.

Explore our Growing Healthy Soil (pdf) guide.  You’ll learn how to:

  • Get to know your soil – dig in and take a look for thatch, compaction, or other soil problems you can fix
  • Enrich your soil with compost when planting
  • Mulch your plantings – save water and control weeds
  • Use organic fertilizers – for cleaner streams and healthier lawns and gardens