Topsoil-compost ratio, newbie question! :)
angela.t
12 years ago
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jonhughes
12 years agoKimmsr
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Newbie compost questions
Comments (13)First, I'm not a soil guy - just a chemist. If you used a Bayer systemic insecticide in a retail product I would guess it was Imidacloprid. If the product you used contained Imidacloprid as the insecticide, I would be very skeptical of the 30-day period in soil. What I know about the stuff is that it's degradation in soil is highly variable. It has been widely studied, and the reported half-lives in soil vary from ~90 days to several years, depending upon conditions. It's primary mode of environmental degradation is via aqueous photolysis - in aqueous solution and sunlight the half-life is hours. Rather than complicate the question, it can persist in soil for a year or more, depending upon a number of variables. The amount that is left as residual at any time will depend upon how much was applied, and how it was applied (directly in soil vs liquid spray, vs other?). All that said, Imidacloprid is used and included in a number of garden insecticides. When applied as a liquid to row crops the intervals between application and harvest are variable, but at garden application rates, which I would guess are lower than what is used for roses, the pre-harvest interval is usually about 21 days. If you applied less but no more than what would be typical in a registered veg garden application, then 21 days should be adequate. If you applied more or it was incorporated into the soil, then to it would take longer to reach soil comparable residual levels. So the answer is, it depends. How long ago and in what form did you use the stuff, and do you know if it contained Imidacloprid?...See MoreRaised beds and compost - newby question
Comments (8)Maybe, possibly there was a need to double dig those areas and there are many garden writters that do champion that, but I also think those people are masochists. As others have stated do not be overly concerend with what you have only with what you are going to do about that. Start by adding a lot of organic matter, and it might be that you would need to use peat moss (shudder) because that might be what is most plentiful and easiest for you to get. Save the sawdust to use as mulch, because it you mix that into the soil you will have problems with Nitrogen deficiency, otherwise add what you have and get more. These simple soil tests will help you determine when you have almost enough organic matter in your soil; 1) Structure. 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. 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 drains 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 you 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....See MoreNeeding to fill as well as feed. What compost/topsoil ratio?
Comments (3)The proper way to fill in low spots in a lawn is to make a large X in the depression, roll back the sod, and fill in to just above the surrounding soil level (to allow for settling). For high spots you do the reverse, make that X, roll back the sod, and remove enough soil to get the sod level with the rest of the lawn. If you simply put sand, topsoil, compost into the depression to raise it up you can cover the grass plants crown, where the growth comes from, and kill that. If you do not put down more that about 1/2 inch at any time and allow the grass to grow back it can take years to get the level up to where it should be....See MoreComposting - Newbie Question
Comments (14)Some people using tumbler composters have had problems with unwanted insects and rodents being attracted but that is most often because the material is too wet and is attractive to them for that reason. Others do not have that problem. That sometimes compost might be attractive to some insects and rodents has little to do with kitchen scraps and more to do with getting the ratio of material, and moisture, close to what is optimal. Horse manure can be a good addition to material to be composted and if done properly, the right ratio, can help the bacteria generate enough heat to kill any "weed" seeds the manure may contain, although the volume of these tumbler composters usually is not enough to generate that much heat. The "shiny" pages (more properly glossy) that are the ad inserts in newspaper are still printed using metallic inks, not soy based and the shiny layer over the print is lacquer, not a soy based clear ink and is there to keep the print from smearing. Because of cost most all printing today is done using soya based inks, except for those ad inserts, and that would include cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes used for food packaging has been printed using food safe inks for over half a century now. So, yes, most cardboard can be composted, but some packaging (toys, cosmetics. etc.) should be looked at with a jaundiced eye since they may be printed with metallic ink, yet. kimmq is kimmsr...See Morebi11me
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