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Soils Information for Gardeners  

Our program developed the soils curriculum and teaches soils classes for the WSU Master Gardener program in western Washington. We prepared the publications below as resources on soils and organic amendments for Northwest gardeners.  

Slideshows: Basic Soils for Master Gardeners: 43 slides. Soil properties, soil testing, fertilizing with organic materials. Advanced Soils for Master Gardeners: 80 slides. Nutrient management, soil tests and interpretation, soil pH, fertilizers and soil amendments.  Soils of the Puget Sound Area, 29 slides that show the major soil types of the Puget Sound area, how they are related to local geology, and their suitability and limitations for different types of land use. Links: WSU Master Gardeners, Eastern and Western Washington divisions, information, Forum, events, publications, farm guides, FAQs. The Soil Biology Primer, A useful guide to the types and roles of soil organisms and soil ecosystems. Many color photos. View on-line or order paper copy from the USDA. From the Soil Quality Institute, United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Soil Testing, Soil sampling methods and soil testing laboratories. Publicaciónes, información, y recursos para Jardineros, en Español, jardines y huertos. Oregon State University. Clopyralid in Compost, Washington State University. Facts and background about the Clopyralid contamination problem. Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter, (pdf) Oregon State University Extension Publication.

Publications of interest:

Antonelli, A., C.G. Cogger, H. Kennell, C. Foss, R. Van Denburgh, and V. Bobbitt. 2004. Organic gardening. EB0648. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. [online pdf]

Cogger, C.G.  2000.  Soil management for small farms.  EB 1895.  Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Oregon State University Extension Service, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System, US Department of Agriculture.  [online pdf]

Cogger, C.G. 1999. Soils and fertilizers. p. 36-58. In: Sustainable gardening: The Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook. EM 8742. Oregon State University Extension Service.  [view sample online (pdf) or order hardcopy $20]

Cogger, C.G., D. Havens, S. Fransen, J. Luna, W. Anderson, and S. Kuo. 1997. Cover crops for home gardens in western Washington and Oregon. EB 1824. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. [online html]

Cogger, C.G. and D.M. Sullivan. 2001. Backyard composting. EB 1784. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. [online pdf]

Hart, J., D. Horneck, R. Stevens, N. Bell, and C. Cogger. 2003. Acidifying soil for blueberries and ornamental plants in the yard and garden West of the Cascade mountain range in Oregon and Washington.  EC1560-E.  Oregon State University Extension Service.  [online pdf]

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WSU Puyallup Research Center, 7612 Pioneer Way E, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA, 98371