Organic Gardening
MULCHES, SOILS, SOIL AMENDMENTS & COMPOSTS
Healthy plants start with healthy soil — especially here in North Texas, where many yards begin with poor soil that is either heavy clay, overly sandy, or low in organic matter. Mulch, potting soils, raised bed mixes, soil amendments, and compost all have a place in your garden, but they don’t all do the same job.
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What you choose depends on what you are starting with, what you are planting, and what you want the product to do. Some products protect the soil surface. Some help build better soil over time. Others are designed for containers, raised beds, or specific planting needs.
WHY SOIL IMPROVEMENT MATTERS IN NORTH TEXAS
North Texas soil can be tough on plants. Some landscapes have heavy clay that drains poorly. Others have loose, porous soil that dries out too quickly. Most are low in organic content, which makes it harder for plants to establish and perform well through our heat and seasonal stress.
Enriching your soil is the best thing you can do for your lawn, landscape beds, or vegetable garden. Healthy soil enables your plants to root in more easily, hold moisture more effectively, and stand up better to stresses such as heat and drought, as well as attacks by pests, and diseases.
HOW THESE PRODUCTS WORK
Mulch, soils, soil amendments, and compost can all help improve your soil. Don’t know where to begin? We can help you choose the right product for your soil, your plants, and your goals.
MULCH
Mulch is applied on top of the soil as a sort of blanket that protects your plants. It helps retain moisture, reduce weeds, and protect plant roots from heat and cold. As wood mulch breaks down over time, it also contributes organic material to the soil.
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Living Earth mulches are popular choices for North Texas gardens and landscape beds. These locally produced hardwood and cedar mulches are finely shredded, so they stay in place better and break down more evenly than many chunkier mulches. Their fine texture, uniform size, and medium-to-dark brown color give planting beds a natural, finished look.
SOILS & POTTING MIXES
Potting soils, raised bed mixes, and other specialty soils such as cactus mix are formulated to give you the best results for their intended planting purpose, providing the right balance of drainage, aeration, and nutrients for whatever you're growing.
SOIL AMENDMENTS
Soil amendments are used to improve existing soil — whether that soil is clay, sandy, compacted, depleted, or somewhere in between. Different amendments do different jobs. Some improve structure. Some add minerals. Some feed beneficial soil organisms or support microbial activity.
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Common soil amendments Marshall Grain carries include Humates, MicroLife Humates Plus, Lava Sand, Expanded Shale, Texas Green Sand, Azomite, Molasses, Corn Meal, and Earthworm Castings.
COMPOST
Compost helps build soil over time by adding organic material and supporting microbial life. For beds that need significant improvement, compost is usually blended into the existing soil. For ongoing maintenance, it can be applied as a top dressing.
Marshall Grain carries several compost options, including Java Turf, Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost, Mushroom Compost, Mayer Command Compost, and Zoo Poo.
MULCHES, SOILS, SOIL AMENDMENTS & COMPOSTS
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Living Earth finely shredded hardwood mulch
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Living Earth finely shredded cedar mulch
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FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil
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FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
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Mayer Raised Bed & Garden Mix
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Mayer Potting Soil
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Nature's Creation Organic Potting Soil
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Nature's Creation Cactus & Succulent Mix
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Lava Sand
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Expanded Shale
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Texas Green Sand
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Azomite
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Molasses
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Corn Meal
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Humates and MicroLife Humates Plus
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Earthworm Castings
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Living Earth Organic Compost
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Java Turf
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Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost
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Mushroom Compost
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Mayer Command Compost
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Zoo Poo
WHY THESE PRODUCTS MATTER
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Build a healthier, more balanced soil ecosystem
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Support stronger root systems
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Improve moisture retention
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Reduce weeds
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Protect plants from heat and cold stress
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Add organic material to the soil
