Soil type is often – and easily – overlooked, but it's one of the most important factors to consider when growing plants.

Soils have a natural characteristic called the cation exchange capacity (CEC) that allows them to hold (and exchange) cations (e.g., Ca+2 or Na+). These cations are held tight enough on the CEC that ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Soil type affects how it retains water and nutrients.Photograph: iStock/Getty Images (Photograph: iStock/Getty Images) I often ...

"Soil don't get no respect," Rodney Dangerfield might have said (but didn't). Perhaps you know your state bird or flower, but do you know your state soil? Well, in recent years soil has begun to get ...