Question
I have decided to start a flower garden and vegetable garden and plant shrubs.  Now, in digging the beds for all the above which is the best product to use that I can buy at a garden store to treat the soil to bring it where it should be, I live in NW Florida (65 miles from Pensacola and close to Alabama), I have a lot of red clay and sand.  I have used Miracle Grow Garden Soil, Scott's Garden Soil and Jungle Grow for vegetables before and of these three which is the best for each?  I love Canna Lilies and have tomatoes, corn, okra, watermelon, cantaloupe and peppers, so which is best?


Answer
Hi Anita, I'd choose none of the above.  Go to your garden center and look for a finely ground pine bark.  Often it is sold as "Soil Conditioner".  The products above are expensive and I get much better results using something coarser.  You may be able to find "pine fines" at a local bulk soil supplier.  It would be even cheaper. Spread it about 2" thick and then till it into the top 8-10" of soil. Then apply 50 lbs of composted manure per 100 sq. ft and till again.  You're good to go, at a fraction of the cost.  Jim