ommon organic soil amendments are listed below:
- Sphagnum peat moss absorbs water, slowly releasing it for use by plant roots. It lightens clay soil, providing aeration, and adds mass to sandy soil, helping prevent the leaching of nutrients. Don't confuse sphagnum peat moss with decorative sphagnum moss, which is primarily a floral design product.
- Humus consists of decayed organic matter. It improves fertility and aeration and helps soil hold moisture.
- Composted manure is an odorless farm byproduct. In addition to improving aeration and moisture retention, it enriches the soil. Dehydrated manure is a similar product that contains less moisture.
- Mushroom compost is a mixture of straw, peat moss and other organic components, formulated for use in commercial mushroom production. The mixture is used for one round of growing and then packaged as an amendment for the home garden.
- Topsoil is commercially produced compost that's usually partially decomposed. Because of its rough texture, use topsoil in the yard or mixed with other products, and not as a potting soil.
- Lime raises soil pH, reducing acidity.
- Sulfur lowers soil pH, increasing acidity.
- Gypsum improves aeration of compacted soil, helping it drain more efficiently.
- Perlite improves aeration and drainage.
- Vermiculite improves moisture retention and aeration.
- Builder's sand is coarse sand that can improve soil drainage.