Please, please, do not put packing peanuts into your garden's
soil! Most packing peanuts are made from polystyrene, which is
not biodegradable. They will remain long after you and your
garden have passed from this earth. Biodegradable packing
peanuts made from plant starch won't help your soil either,
because they dissolve when they get wet. Improve the drainage,
tilth, and overall quality of your soil by mixing compost into
your garden beds. Even better, double-dig your beds. This
process adds organic matter and loosens the soil, making it
easier for water and air to reach the roots of your plants. For
instructions on double- digging, see "Start a Fresh Bed" in our
March 2004 issue. Another option is to build raised beds and
fill them with a high-quality, well-draining topsoil. Whichever
method you choose, allow the newly fluffed soil to settle for a
couple of days before planting. And don't walk on your new bed;
you'll compact it and undo all your hard work. As for your
packing peanuts, recycle them at a lo