soil retaining too much moisture! help!
kawaiineko_gardener
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
capoman
11 years agocapoman
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Retaining walls around trees - too much soil compaction?
Comments (8)Tree rings are widely derided in landscape design circles (I think the Renegade Gardener does a send-up) but embraced by many ordinary people whose objective is to make their yard look nice as opposed to achieving a certain design standard for the big picture. I have to say that my reaction to them varies, in that there are some very ridiculous looking exemplars, others where I have to drop my snobbery and also say, gosh, that's pretty. And I mean, it isn't always obvious what else you can do to make a tree grow attractively out of a lawn, independent of whether the tree is well chosen for the site or well placed on the lot - either you can't mow right up to the trunk so you have unmowed grass and weeds, or the roots/tree debris cause an uneven and sickly bare patch under the canopy. So yes, the rings often do look neat and beautiful. I think your circle will be fine for the tree. I doubt the amount of foot traffic you describe will affect the tree. I suspect too that the roots will grow further down into the ground than the one layer of brick, and if they do encounter that obstacle, they will grow under it (if you have plastic or landscape fabric, which you should not have, the roots will stay closer to the surface in a desperate quest for water, and will lift the brick - this may happen anyway if it is a very surface-rooted tree). Mostly, your roots will go down far enough to be undisturbed, and a five foot circle certainly gives the tree enough room to compensate a bit for any excess trampling that does occur outside the circle. Just keep an eye on your tree and see if it looks happy and healthy. Trees have ways of letting you know if the conditions aren't right - you just have to train yourself to recognize what they are telling you. KarinL...See MoreSoil Test: Too Much Phosph, Zero Nitrogen (too much compost?)
Comments (3)First, the DIY test kits are a waste of time and money. They are notorious for being inaccurate and mis-leading. So either get a pro test done from your local county AG office or don't do anything to your garden based on the DIY kit. Second, most all garden soils will test normal to high in P as most all soils have plenty of it naturally - one reason why most new fertilizers are being sold P-free. Third, most compost can't be your only source of nutrients, especially N, unless your soil also has a very active soil-food web, a good working micro-herd of bacteria to convert the compost to nutrients for the plants. How much N your compost may have in it all depends on what the rabbits are fed and how long it is composted. N leaches and evaporates out of compost and soil very quickly - which is why it always tests low - so it may require regular additions of other N sources or at least of more quality compost several times during the season. Too many who grow exclusively with compost make the mistake of assuming a 1x a year addition is sufficient for N. Unfortunately, given the fragile nature of N, it isn't. But the place to start is with a REAL soil test. Dave...See MoreHelp! Too Much Moisture in Humidity Domes
Comments (3)Daily misting should not be required for any reason until after the seeds germinate. This assuming the potting mix was properly wet when the pots were filled. But cow and fiber pots are notoriously bad for wicking the water out of the soil and into the pot material. Unfortunately misting doesn't solve that problem, only direct watering of the soil does. The humidity dome is removed as soon as germination begins of course but until then if excess moisture is collecting on it then things are too wet inside. So cut back on the watering and prop one end of the dome open a couple of times a day to allow moisture to escape and fresh air to circulate. If necessary, remove it completely and leave it off for a couple of hours a day - it isn't required anyway and excess moisture and wet soil can do more damage than good. Once germination begins be sure to get that dome off and leave it off. Hope this helps. Dave...See MorePoor soil quality, too much organic top soil
Comments (6)Look at this as a wonderful opportunity. Less organic material for you to find and labor to add for your plants. If I wanted a lawn with the plantings I know how I would go about it. Three to eight inches isn't very much, so it could be all done by hand ... if we're not talking about a ginormous amount of space. First I would get out as many garden hoses as I have and use them to sketch out the wanted lawn area. Doing it this way gives you a good idea of how it will look in real life, as opposed to a pretty drawing on paper. You can leave them there and reconsider after you've lived with the plan a few days. Move as needed. Once your ready to begin, gather up the mulch that's in the future lawn area and use it to create berms in the flower bed areas, keeping in mind these will decrease in height quite a bit over the next year. But with luck you will still have enough added height to add drama to the floral scene. IF the flowers are to be viewed from both sides , the height needs to be in the center of the beds, with tallest plants in the middle. I did this a couple times with a picket fence at the front of the house and the extra height of those taller plants on the small berm not only helped give more privacy to the front yard and front windows, but the street view was much more eye catching. Everything just looked so much bigger than expected. I'm not talking about a high berm, just enough. ;) Vary the heights of the raised areas too or the whole thing gets too predictable. If by chance you find old dead, thatch where a lawn used to be, and it doesn't seem suitable to be planting on top of , this too can be used for added flower bed height. Just clear a space, throw all that thatch can be used, then cover with more of the compost material. Regular shrubs and perennials can work their way through that sort of thing just fine over the next year or so it takes to break down. I have routinely planted directly in mushroom compost that comes from big trucks ( the bagged is finer) and never had any problems. But that doesn't mean yours isn't slightly different, plus your different climate. What about watering an area and then checking later to see how well it holds moisture ? Heck, throw a test plant in there while your at it and see what happens to it. Hopefully you will not need to spend $$ on more soil to maintain a moisture level. Better to spend on plants and cool hardscaping! Oh, and the perfect birdbath.:) Now get out your collection of garden books and magazines and have fun looking at all the beautiful designs you admired in the past. You have a wonderful, fertile blank slate to work with. How exciting....See Morekawaiineko_gardener
11 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years agocapoman
11 years agokawaiineko_gardener
11 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
11 years agossmdgardener
11 years agoDMForcier
11 years agokawaiineko_gardener
11 years agossmdgardener
11 years ago
Related Stories
CONTAINER GARDENSContainer Gardening Basics: The Dirt on Soil
Learn the types of potting soil available and the best mixes to help your containers thrive
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It
There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils
What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden
The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES10 Solutions for Soggy Soil
If a too-wet garden is raining on your parade, try these water-loving plants and other ideas for handling all of that H2O
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGardening Solutions for Dry, Sandy Soils
Has your desert or beachy site withered your gardening creativity? Try these ideas for a beautiful, easy-care landscape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil
Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHouzz TV: Make a Worm Bin for Rich Soil and Happy Plants
A worm-powered compost bin that can fit under a sink turns food scraps into a powerful amendment for your garden. Here’s how to make one
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHelp Fuel the Monarch Migration With These 6 Prairie Plants
Try these nectar-rich beauties and help autumn monarchs
Full StoryPETS6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together
Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian
Full Story
ssmdgardener