Too much dry shade!
User
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (27)
User
11 years agoUser
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden in old horse dry lot or pasture? / Too much Manure?
Comments (5)The only way to know whether the Phosphorus and Potash is too high, too low, or about right is to have a good reliable soil test done of the soil in that proposed garden plot. An in depth look at the soil will also help answer other questions that are just as important such as the soils pH, drainage, soil life, type of soil, and about as important as the rest how much organic matter is in that soil. Contact your state universities Cooperative Extension Service office about having a good reliable soil test done and also dig in with these simple soil tests, 1) Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsâ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. to see what else you can about that soil....See Moreyellow dry leaves - too much sun?
Comments (7)Normal soil with volcanic rocks underneath. No drainage. I water it depending on how dry the soil is. I admit I am not a big expert on plants, so any extra help appreciated Gee, maybe it's the tennis ball to be blamed ! :) Cheers...See MoreHow much is too much sun for shade lovers
Comments (3)Hey, thank you, Jen, it's amazing how a few words of reassurance can warm the heart! I do hope it all works. I'd love to have hostas, but unfortunately that's the neighborhood deer favorite, I think they would eat a garden catalog PICTURE of a hosta if they got the chance. I do have a spot for ferns, waplummer, and I'll look up Christmas fern. I don't know a lot about ferns, I should probably learn to make better use of them, thank you for the suggestion. I have a lot of planting to do this spring. Guess I better get off the computer and get outside! Thanks so much. Happy gardening....See MoreGuacamole too dry? Too much sun? Nematodes? Other?
Comments (22)The pot is not at all overly heavy when I lift it. I really don't think overwatering is the problem based on that. As far as lifting it out, I'll have to see if looks like that can be done without doing major damage. If not I'd rather wait until it starts drying back for the winter before I risk tearing it apart, but I'll experiment with that today and let you know. We did have a very wet spring but it has not gotten any more water since then than in the three previous summers. Babka.....some of my pots can easily go every other day with no watering or some without total leaf cover over the pot and smaller pots can get most of the water they need from the sprayers, but some get dry daily, I assume from the heavy root growth. This time of the year in Texas even some drought tolerant plants in the ground can show heat stress in two days with no water. I've not used any bark in my pots since over the last 3 plus years I have not seen any problem with drainage. Part of that may be that drying out from the heat IMO pretty much overrides the drainage issue. However, this year I changed media on some of my new plants to an organic potting soil with expanded shale mixed in to see how that works. Some of those pots are really drying out fast in the summer, so we'll see how that goes. They are all new plants with smaller root systems so I have seen no problem at all so far. Kristen.....I have seen the posts about not doing overhead watering, but one of the last studies I read said that the problem with that was that you could splash the nematodes from plant to plant and not that overhead watering actually caused the nematodes. However I suppose they could splash leaf to leaf. I am not at all as knowledgable as most people here so maybe someone else will chime in on that....See Morebahia
11 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years agoUser
11 years agobahia
11 years agoUser
11 years agodeviant-deziner
11 years agoUser
11 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years agodeviant-deziner
11 years agoUser
11 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years agokarinl
11 years agoUser
11 years agokarinl
11 years agoUser
11 years agoCori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agoCori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
6 years agoCori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
6 years agoCori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agoCori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agol pinkmountain
6 years ago
Related Stories
FLOWERS AND PLANTSCarex Pensylvanica Fills the Void in Dry Shade Gardens
Plant Pennsylvania sedge in eastern U.S. woodlands or dry shade gardens for spring flowers and softly textured bright green leaves
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Thalictrum Dioicum Thrives in Dry Shade
Plant early meadow-rue in eastern U.S. woodland gardens for its tolerance of dry sites and shade
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES5 Unsung Wildflowers That Thrive in Dry Shade
Turn shady problem spots into garden idylls with with these prolific, easy-care bloomers
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES6 Native Ground Covers for Tough, Dry Spots
Sun beating down on your sandy gravel? Thick shade darkening your clay soil? There’s a ground cover here for you
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESYes, You Can Grow an Edible Garden on a Hot, Dry Site
Difficult garden spots don’t need to deter you from planting trees, herbs and other delicious food plants
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow and What to Plant in Dry, Sunny Spots
Save water and improve your site’s look with these design tips and help from a pro
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNDitch the Ordinary Ditch: Create a Realistic Dry Creek Bed
Here’s how to turn your water runoff system into an eye-catching accent for your landscape
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 StoryGROUND COVERSGreat Design Plant: Blackfoot Daisy for Prettier Dry Ground
Don’t let its delicate looks fool you. This ground cover can survive extreme cold and heat, and with little water to boot
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Achillea Millefolium for Dry California Gardens
Yarrow attracts painted ladies and scares off garden thugs in native habitats and vegetable gardens
Full Story
l pinkmountain