High-quality soil should have good drainage and tilth, a dark color, a pleasant smell, and signs of life. Avoid soil that is compacted, visibly sandy, and shows no signs of active soil organisms.

So what does it actually mean for soil to be healthy? At its core, high quality soil can retain water, support microbial life, and anchor plants through all kinds of weather. When these functions work ...

Not all plants need top-quality soil to grow—you can have a striking, vibrant landscape filled with ornamentals that are well adapted to poor soil. However, if you want to grow highly productive ...