Garden soil

All Garden soil Content

Monarch butterfly visiting a blanket flower near a backyard garden.

Backyard Natural Resources Webinar Series

Learn how to support healthy ecosystems in your backyard and beyond in this webinar series.

Gardener inspecting soil in a backyard garden plot.

Are Cheap Home Garden Soil Test Kits Accurate?

Inexpensive soil test kits are a method available for gardeners available to estimate soil pH and the level of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium present in the soil.

A hand holding a soil sample taken from a soybean field.

Soil Testing Labs

This page contains a list of nearby state or private laboratories that can be used for crop production fields, gardens and lawns.

A pile of soil and compost covered with straw

Composting Basics

The natural process of composting is aided by providing an ideal environment for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposing organisms (such as worms, nematodes, etc.) and produces a "Black Gold" that is rich in nutrients and organic matter.

hand examining clump of soil organic matter

Soil: It’s Not Just Dirt

Most soils are complex ecosystems with worms, insects and microscopic organisms, which all work together in helping plants grow.

Young man shoveling a pile of compost.

Organic Gardening: Soil Management

Gardeners throughout South Dakota are experimenting with organic gardening. While the adoption of organic gardening methods can be daunting, learning some fundamental soil management concepts will set the foundations for success.

A companion planting of kale, pole beans, and marigolds in a small garden plot.

Organic Pest Control Methods

Integrated pest management is an environmentally conscious approach to managing insects, weeds and disease. By focusing on natural processes, growers use pest control methods beginning with the least toxic and amplifying the pest control needs gradually if problems persist.

fruit and vegetable garden with raised beds

Fertilizing Gardens in South Dakota

Publication about fertilizing gardens in South Dakota

Gardener holding a tub of used coffee grounds in a garden.

Spent Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer or Not?

Should you put used coffee grounds in your compost pile? How about on your garden, or in your raised bed?

Completed black soldier fly rearing bin sitting on a worktable.

Insect Bioconversion: How to Compost With Black Soldier Flies

Much like composting, black soldier flies can be used in a rearing container to convert organic matter into nutrient-rich food, which can then be used in your garden. Learn how to construct a rearing container with this step-by-step guide!