The Dirt On soil

 

February 2026

PICKAWAY TO GARDEN

The Dirt on Soil

By Paul Hang

 

What’s the difference, if any, between dirt and soil? Both are the “skin of the earth.” It’s the stuff under our feet when we are out in nature, minus the vegetation. We use the terms interchangeably and sometimes differently. When we came in from outdoors with dirt/soil on our feet, our Moms said “Take off those dirty shoes.” Soil is sometimes used to designate a country or area of origin. “She’s from good Midwestern soil.” If you had an accident soil can be a verb. So what’s the difference between soil and dirt?

 

The EVS. Institute defines soil as, “Soil is a naturally occurring mixture of weathered rock, organic matter, water, and air that forms the foundation for terrestrial life. This dynamic medium supports plant growth, filters water, stores carbon, and houses countless organisms that make ecosystems function. Understanding what soil truly is reveals why protecting this precious resource is essential for sustainable food production, clean water, and healthy environments.”

 

The article defines soil and gives an eight page overview. In this brief consideration I am only able to overview the overview and overlook a lot. Soil is not just the dirt beneath our feet. What distinguishes soil from dirt is life. Dirt is the mineral particles with some, if any, organic matter, is compacted with little air and sometimes little water. When I went through master gardener training the most surprising thing I learned about soil was that half of it consisted of 25%water and 25% air. The other half consists of 5% organic matter and 45% mineral particles.

 

Mineral particles make up the parent material. The particles are sorted by their grain size. Starting with the smallest is clay, then silt, then sand. Particle size determines how much air and water can be held. Another type of soil is loam. The types of soil are determined by the amount water, air and organic material they contain. Some soils are better than others depending on what you want to grow in them.

 

Good soil is porous and biologically active. It’s alive! It contains microbes, fungi, bacteria, worms, and insects, alive and dead. The way to build good soil is to add organic material like compost. You can dig it in and/or use it as mulch that breaks down and is incorporated into the underlying soil. Another way is to dig a hole for your plants bigger than required and add extra organic material to the planting hole. The best way to find out about your soil is, don’t guess, test. You can receive information on soil testing at the OSU Extension Office at 740-474-7534.

 

This was just a little dirt on soil. There is a lot more to learn.

 

 

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

Check perennials and bulbs for heaving out of the ground. Press them down gently with your foot. Make a list of plants you want. Inventory seeds you have saved to make sure they aren’t past viability. Send in your seed orders. When you make out your seed and plant orders consider planting more native and heirloom plants. Native plants are plants that evolved here and are adapted to our conditions, diseases and native pests. While you’re at it try googling the name of a flower you’re thinking about ordering.  You will be able to see pictures and planting information.

 

This is the time to prune trees and shrubs (after you sharpen your tools). You can see their structure now that they are dormant and the leaves are down. Cut out crossing and rubbing branches and unwanted suckers.  Pruning can be done to reduce the size of a tree or shrub to bring it in to balance or to remove overhanging branches blocking a view or path. Insects are less likely to be attracted to cuts while trees are dormant. Remember, spring flowering shrubs should be pruned after flowering if you want to enjoy the blooms. Summer flowering shrubs can be pruned now. Cut back butterfly bush (Buddleia) severely.

 

On smaller trees you may want to take care of problems yourself. On larger trees you should call in an expert to inspect and perhaps correct any problems. Arborists are in a slow time of year. The ground, if frozen, will not be damaged and compacted as much from equipment and crews. The Arbor Day Foundation recommends that you have Certified Arborists check any safety problems you may have noticed. To find them go to www.isa-arbor.com click on “Verify Certification” and then “Find an Arborist.” They will not recommend topping your trees. The City of Circleville has a Comprehensive Tree Plan. You can find it at ci.circleville.oh.us, in the search box type Tree Plan. There you will find lots of information on caring for trees.

 

If you dug up bulbs for storage check on them. Spritz them with water to prevent drying out. Throw away any rotting or shriveled ones. Water any dormant or overwintering plants in your garage or basement. Water houseplants with lukewarm water, don’t overwater and turn them a quarter turn once a week, no fertilizer yet.

 

Seeds of onions, cabbage, cauliflower, and other members of the Cole family can be started indoors this month for setting out in late March or early April, depending on the weather: The University of Minnesota has a good discussion; go to www.extension.umn.edu/garden /flowers/starting-seeds-indoors. Also Google Winter Sowing. There you will read how to recycle plastic milk bottles to easily germinate some seeds. It is a good way to raise a lot of seedlings for planting “drifts,” those bands of like plants that wander serpentinely through flower beds. Now is a good time to start building raised vegetable garden beds.