." >> steve mcshane here, mcshane's nursery and landscape spot, also known as dr. dirt. has your soil got you sick? well, i might have the remedy. take a look at this medium, breathing with life. soil is where it all begins in the garden, teeming with microorganisms, as much as a billion per teaspoon. it's just marvelous. microorganisms are what bringing--breaking down that nutrients and making them plant-available. one of the most important things when talking about soil microbiology is temperature. i keep a soil thermometer in my garden, because when things get to 50 degrees or higher, microbial activity spikes, making those nutrients available. now, there's some things we can do to get microbes goin'. first one is kelp. second one is alfalfa. by adding either of these amendments to the soil, studies have shown populations spike. there's also some trace nitrogen. and knowing that microorganisms are feeding on organic matter, i recommend adding some every year. maybe an inch to the vegetable garden or under the drip line of a tree goes a long way. and if you're like mos

. >> steve mcshane here. mcshane's nursery and landscape supply.f the best salsa you've ever had. it was the fresh cilantro, wasn't it? herbs go a long way in the garden and we're going to learn a little bit about how to succeed with herbs in your landscape and in backyard. well, let's see, the first thing i'd say is you need to plan for your herb garden. most people are growing herbs these days in containers. they put a little gravel in the bottom, water their high-grade potting soil, maybe a little bit of [indistinct], add some starter fertilizer to get them going. i always tell people--select things that are going to be found to be a little exotic. edible plants as well. why not mix in with your herbs thgs like nasturtium? the flowers in nasturtium are a little peppery. they do a lot for your salads. calendula is also edible. these blooms, the plant, what a great addition to your salads and entrees. the other thing i'd say to folks is make sure you consider sun, sunlight, 6 to 8 hours a day. if you've got the right plan, you got the right herbs,