We'd not heard of rice hulls either - this affordable hack is what pros use to make backyards better for growing

A coconut plant growing in a plastic bag with rice husks on the topsoil

So you've decided to step up your gardening game, but just as you think you've wrapped your head around the various soil amendments and potting mediums on the planet, you find out about a thing called rice hulls. Suddenly, you don't feel quite as green-thumbed as you did five minutes ago. So what are they, and how do they work? 

If using rice hulls for gardening is a totally foreign concept to you, don't be put off. This byproduct of rice harvests is one of the most sustainable soil amendments you can incorporate into your planting and they have a multitude of uses, from mulching your plant beds to helping aerate the soil in your containers. With the help of some experts, we explain all the different ways you can make use of this cheap, easy, and effective product within your modern garden.