Understanding Soil Course Go in-depth and discover how to navigate this vital living ecosystem!
  • 10 videos
Speaker Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis

Videos

Understanding Soil Course
1. Why Should I Understand Soil?
Welcome to this introduction to the Understanding Soil Course! Meet the instructor, Robert Pavlis, learn about his background, and enjoy an aerial visit to his 6-acre botanical garden.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
2. Introduction to Soil
In this segment, Robert explains the main components of soil, defines what good soil is, and discusses the role of microbes in creating good soil.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
3. Selecting the Right Soil
In this segment, you'll learn the pros and cons of different kinds of soil and soilless mixes. Then we'll review a number of common gardening situations, and Robert helps you select the best soil.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
4. Plant Nutrients
In this segment, you'll learn about the nutrients that plants need and understand the NPK numbers on a container of fertilizer. Then you'll learn the pros and cons of both organic and synthetic fertilizers.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
5. Selecting the Right Fertilizer
In this lecture, we'll take a deeper dive into fertilizer and help you select the right one for your gardening needs.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
6. Testing Soil Nutrients
In this segment, we'll compare several different soil test options and compare the results from each. Robert shows you how to properly take a soil sample and explains what the results mean.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
7. Testing Soil pH
In this segment, Robert defines pH; explains why it is important to plants; shows you how to test it; and then discusses if, when, and how you should change it.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
8. Testing Soil Texture
In this segment, we'll take a deep dive into soil texture. Robert explains what it is, how to measure it, and how to use texture to determine the type of soil you have. Then he examines how soil texture affects gardening and plant growth.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
9. Soil and Fertilizer Myths
Soil myths are common and in this segment we'll look at a number of gardening myths that deal with soil. Understanding these myths can ultimately save you money!
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis
Understanding Soil Course
10. The Rhizosphere
Our final lecture of the program! The rhyzosphere is a thin layer around plant roots. Many gardeners don't know about it, but it is critical to growing better plants. It also shows why the pH of soil is not that important and why microbes are.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis