Every gardener understands the value of sunlight and water.
On average, plants need about six hours of direct sunlight a day and one inch of water a week. But, in addition to the sun and water, the right soil mixture and proper nutrients are vital to growing healthy, productive plants. A good soil composition is as important to plants as a solid foundation is to a building. The best way to determine the soil composition is to conduct a simple soil test. One method is to take a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball.