Soil is a living ecosystem that contains water, air, microbial life, decomposing organic matter, and particles of sand, silt and clay.

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Mulch is a critical practice to building healthy soils, conserving water, reducing weeds, encouraging beneficial insects and keeping your garden or flower bed low maintenance. The City of Saskatoon has free compost and mulch depots that are open for pick up or green waste collection during the growing season.

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Want a low maintenance, low water garden? We have a brand new No Till page on our website that walks you through the whole process, start to finish. Check it out!

Soilless mixes are not soils and typically contain few nutrients. Growing in them is sort of like growing in a hydroponic system - unless compost or other fertilizers have already been added, you're going to need to provide appropriate fertility to growing plants on an ongoing basis. Soilless mixes are usually made from a large proportion of peat moss which is often mixed with pearlite, vermiculite or other natural materials. Because these materials drain well and don't have the same living ecosystem that soil does, they are ideal for starting seeds. Seeds don't need fertilizers and a soilless mix provides great water potential in a relatively sterile environment.

Their lightweight and ability to hold water like a sponge makes soilless mixes the go-to choice for containers. However, they are not permanent and don't belong in raised beds. Read the contents on your potting mix bag, add compost or other fertilizers if necessary, and make sure you change out the potting mix in your pots every three to five years to keep your plants healthy!

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Compost is an organic fertilizer you can make at home, buy in a store, or maybe even get for free from your local municipality. The City of Saskatoon has free compost and mulch depots that are open for pick up or green waste collection during the growing season. Need more help than what's here? Saskatoon residents can contact the Saskatoon Compost Coaches for help through the City of Saskatoon.

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Commercial fertilizers come in organic and inorganic forms. Organic fertilizers come from a living source and include compost, bone or blood meal, or other organic labeled products. Inorganic fertilizers are sourced from non-living materials and include rock phosphate or other general fertilizers.

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