Gardening

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.

Videos:

Collecting a Soil Sample. Shows procedure for collecting a soil sample for nutrient analysis from a garden or small farm. For addition information see Soil sampling for home gardens and small acreages (pdf, slow loading).
Determining Soil Texture by Hand. You can learn how to estimate the texture of your soil by working a soil sample with your hand. For more information see the Soil Texture Chart.
The Sponge Analogy for Soil Moisture. Explains the role of soil pores in water movement and water holding capacity using a sponge as an analogy.

Slideshows:

Soils and Fertilizers: (pdf, 6meg, 72 slides). Soil physical properties, fertilizers, soil amendments, cover crops.
Soils of the Puget Sound Area: (pdf, 1meg, 29 slides) Shows 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:

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

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

Soils and fertilizers. (preview pdf sample of 589 pg Handbook online or order hardcopy - $30) Cogger, C.G. 1999.p. 36-58. In: Sustainable gardening: The Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook. EM 8742. Reprinted 2007. Oregon State University Extension Service.

Cover crops for home gardens in Western Washington and Oregon. (free online html or order hardcopy $1) Cogger, C.G., D. Havens, S. Fransen, J. Luna, W. Anderson, and S. Kuo. 1997. EB 1824. Washington State University Cooperative Extension.

Backyard composting. (online pdf) or Como Hacer y Usar El Compost (pdf, spanish version, 2001 EC1544-S). Cogger, C.G. and D.M. Sullivan. 2009. EB 1784e. Washington State University Cooperative Extension.

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

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Dept Crops and Soils, Washington State University Puyallup Research Center, 2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371 Website Comments