15 Things You Didn’t Know About Soil: Read the article here.

1.  They are one of the most biodiverse systems on the planet,
2.  Plant roots give back to the soil.
3.  There are more than 20,000 types of soil in the U.S.
4.  The largest U.S. soil type is in prairies.
5.  Soils can have beautiful colors. (Even blue and pink!)
6.  Digging busts up everyone’s home.
7.  Busted up homes release carbon dioxide.
8.  Healthy soil takes hundreds of years to form.
9.  Be patient when trying to improve your soil.
10.  Cover crops improve the soil in more ways than one.
11.  Soil’s natural rototiller: the worm.
12.  Old agricultural practices don’t do soils any favor.
13.  Georgia’s red clay is a subsoil exposed by erosion. (This article is based on information from a UGA soil scientist.)
14.  Soils have a huge impact on water quality and quantity.
15.  You don’t have to be a soil nerd to appreciate good soil.
Read the article here.
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Soils found in home gardens and public landscapes usually bear little resemblance to the original soil. Native soils are formed through centuries of interactions between climactic factors, local environmental factors, and the biological components of the soil. Soils in developed areas, also called urban soils, are often distinctly layered, compacted, and artificially amended. “Soil Myth Busting for Extension Educators” in a recent edition of the Journal of the NACAA reviews the diferences and how they afect soil functionality and plant life. Be sure to read through to the end of the article for practices to use instead of amending the soil.