Feeding new Plants

19 years ago

Hello! I hope someone out there can help me! I have many questions about gardening. We live in a new housing development near Wetumpka. The soil here is pretty much red clay. What is the best way to amend it or should I just try to do raised beds? The shrubs that came with the house are tiny. What and when should I feed them to encourage growth? There are also a couple of trees (I can't remember what kind at the moment) that were planted in the fall. Should I feed them? Also, any suggestions on plants that do well in the hot Alabama afternoon sun?

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Comments (6)

cockybamagirl
19 years ago
well...i really shouldn't be giving advise......the novice gardener that I am...but....have you had the soil tested?....it may not be as bad as you think.....i thought my soil was going to be awful...as it is very light...actually...some of it is orange...which i took to mean it was clay.....anyway...i tested it...and the ph was actually right where it should be for most plants.....i was really surprized...
arab_gal
19 years ago
You can't go wrong with compost manure, humus, and a little peat moss. When I dig, I put the clay into my wheel barrow and mix it with a big pile of these amendments. It's a beautiful, dark soil when it's all mixed together. And keep a pile of pine straw in the back corner of your yard, it will break down and provide a rich mixture for those acid-loving shrubs like azaleas.
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Definitely looks like a yucca guatemalensis that is growing in very low light. They are very easy to care for. I would bring it outside during the summer in a spot that doesnt get too much direct sunlight (they can handle full sun but yours has been growing in an indoor environment for so long that it won't be used to a lot of high light). They dont really need much fertilizer and definitely thrive on neglect. I bring mine outside during the summer and back in during the winter and they are growing happy. I always let it dry out a little bit between waterings but not too much. The leaves will grow longer in shade (like the way your's are now) and will only be half that length in full sun. Good luck with it! -Alex
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First off I want to say WOW! Nice setup and good luck! I think the mixing of nutrients can be debatable. The reason I say this is the soil is pretty rich as is, with the organic mix and top soil. I would say, and I am no pro in soil so maybe you will want to cross post to another forum for backup, but I would say a general nutrient mixture would be good. The problem that I foresee is nutrient burn. Your soil is already pretty rich and if too strong of a nutrient is pushed through the system you could burn the roots, as I am sure you have knowledge in. I would say it might be beneficial to have two batches mixed up and running. The reason I say this is that tomatoes, lettuce, and select other crops are ridiculous when it comes to sucking up nitrogen from the soil. So you might want a high Nitrogen mix and a medium nitrogen mix for strawberries). Also, if I may inquire: What is your pair planting (i.e. what did you plant with what)? Are you planning on constantly flushing the nutrients container? Are you running your drip on a timer? If so what are you looking at for feeding schedule? What type of soil are your boxes above? I grew broccoli in pure hydro and strawberries so I can help out that way. I lived in farm country and got a lot of tips from organic growers as well.
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do not plant in august never use landscape fabric ... it keep moisture out.. more often than keeping it in ... never fert a recent transplant and most likely .,... never fert a shrub, unless a soil test that such is needed ... they are not children.. they dont need to be fed refer to the planting guide linked below ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
19 years ago
Arabgirl is right. Your red Alabama clay can be improved (texture-wise) with the incorporation of organic matter of almost any kind. Red clay is NOT bad stuff! And the good thing about clay soils is that you do not have to fertilize them very much. Your best bet for your existing plants is to keep them mulched with an organic layer of 2 to 4 inches, but not piled up on the trunks which causes problems.

If you are going to create new beds, by all means bring in some compost, peat, triple ground bark, etc. Work it well into your clay soil....never just pile a top-soil on top of the clay. It must be mixed together.

Having a soil test done is a good idea, so that you have an accurate idea of what your pH (at the very least) is. But pH has nothing to do with whether your soil is clayey or not.
ourhighlandhome
19 years ago
I agree with the above - amend and blend. Clay gets a bad rap, but when your pretty, black topsoil is void of all moisture, clay is waiting on the sideline with it's own reserve, plus bound-up nutrients to boot.

Nelson
sugarhill
19 years ago
As for feeding shrubs - usually a tablespoon of 10-10-10 for each foot of height is a good amount - the slow-release kind. Once in April and maybe once in either June or September. That should do for most shrubs. If the plant is less than a year old, you might want to fertilize in April, June, and September. If you mulch over the fertilizer, you don't even have to work it into the soil. This reminds me that it is April and I need to fertilize my shrubs.
roseyp8255
19 years ago
Bunny - I live up north of Wetumpka - so I feel your pain! :) But, everyone is right - check the soil - at my place, it varies from spot to spot - and some of my orange "clay" wasn't clay - but then again, some of it is/was!
I have done some raised beds, including one that i put that ICKY black landscape fabric down (does NOT work as far as we are concerned!)- the next raised bed I did, I used cardboard boxes with newspaper under it, and composted manure/topsoil mixture on top of it - works much better, although still not perfect.

In some other spots I am just amending as I plant, and throwing compost everywhere.

FYI - keep an eye out in the Bulletin Board - last couple of years, there was someone in Blue Ridge area off 231 selling "horse manure compost" - for $5.00 per pickup load.

If you are not averse to it, check some of the local chicken farmers - they will probably be glad for you to come clean their chicken coops...best stuff in the world for helping to amend the soil.

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Feeding new Plants

Comments (6)

cockybamagirl

arab_gal

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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

ourhighlandhome

sugarhill

roseyp8255

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