What can you do to improve your garden’s soil to reduce failures? In this episode 160 - The Soil Solution: Unlocking Your Garden’s Potential with Bryce Lane, we discover how understanding soils influences abundant plant growth. This is a remix and encore presentation.

They discuss the foundational role of soil in gardening success and how adding organic matter can vastly improve soil quality. The conversation covers the importance of understanding soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties, debunking myths about soil management, and practical tips for gardeners of all levels to enhance their garden's soil, leading to healthier, more resilient plants and a thriving ecosystem.

Bryce discovered his passion for plants, and telling others about them while working at a small Massachusetts garden center through high school and college.

After earning his BS and MS degrees in Horticulture, he came to the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University as an Instructor and Undergraduate Coordinator.

He spent 34 years teaching and advising over 20,000 students. Bryce retired in 2014, but still teaches part-time in the department.

For 11 seasons, from 2003 to 2014 he hosted and produced a three-time, Emmy winning, UNC TV public television show called “In the Garden With Bryce Lane”.  

Time Line:

0:00 Welcome to The Garden Question Podcast

01:02 Meet Bryce Lane: A Gardening Expert's Journey

02:14 The Importance of Building Healthy Soil

04:28 Understanding Soil: Components and Functions

07:43 The Biological World Beneath Our Feet

16:33 The Magic of Organic Matter in Soil Building

27:46 Choosing and Applying Organic Matter

32:53 The Truth About Fertilizers: Organic vs Synthetic

34:20 The Journey of Peruvian Seabird Guano

35:20 Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Your Garden

36:47 Improving Clay Soil: Sand vs Organic Matter

38:11 Maximizing Organic Matter in Your Soil

39:28 Gardening Tips: Soil Building and Planting Strategies

42:34 Redefining Garden Design: From Holes to Whole Beds

45:26 A Horticulturist's Journey: From Garden Center to TV

53:34 Gardening Mistakes and Learnings

58:17 Future Plans and Funny Stories from the Garden

01:01:12 The Philosophy of Gardening

01:03:12 Connecting with Bryce Lane