Mulch on slope? Novice gardener needs help
alleycallie
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
alleycallie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Novice Gardener Needs Help
Comments (1)Dracunculus vulgaris....See Morenovice gardener needs immediate help!!!
Comments (2)First part of the question: waiting for the compost delivery won't hurt the Weeping Siberian Spruce. It's got a very slow growth rate (6-10" per year) so it won't get much more potbound than it is now. Wrap the black nursery pot with something white, so the sun doesn't overheat it, and keep it well watered. You say the soil doesn't retain moisture. Does than mean it drains quickly, or that it runs off on the surface? Dig a hole and fill it half way with water. Time how long it takes to drain. If it drains quickly, then use the compost to amend the backfill, but don't include any peat moss. This tree likes moist well-drained soil. The existing soil, mixed with compost will hold enough moisture to satisfy it, and as long as it drains quickly, the tree should be happy. Since you'll be installing the tree several weeks after using the RoundUp, it won't be a concern. It'll all be gone (probably already is)....See Morenovice gardener needs immediate help!!!
Comments (1)Kavell, Cancel!!!!!! your top soil shipment!!!!!!!!!!!! I once planted a big tree like yours into exactly what you describe. I had help fortunately as the soil was actually dried to the consistency of concrete. What you truly need to do is take your pitchfork after you measure the diameter of both lengthwise and vertical of your rootball and dig to a depth of almost as deep of the vertical dimension but dig very wide. 'Today' it is common growing practice to, "dig three times the diameter of the rootball." In your case, I'd dig 6 times the diameter of the rootball. And that's exactly what I elected to do with this other large tree. You can certainly toss in some organic matter but not very much. For that entire area you'll be digging, you might use 2 bags of compost. Skip the peat. I also methodically stood by all the backfill soil and chipped at it with a shovel and broke it up as finely as possible. It must of took us a minimum of an hour for 4-5 of us to plant this tree I made mention about earlier. The compost certainly won't over do the amending practices of today but only as long as you don't do anything like 50/50, try to stay about 80-90% at the level of consistency with native soil. This to me for everyone to comment on is a perfect example despite what any "book" would say or even what any college university might too say regarding ammending soil about the use of soil ammendments. I can't comment if that tree we planted made it, but that's what I did because I thought to myself at the time that this tree will never make it otherwise. Nice purchase by the way. Dax...See MoreA novice gardener needs basic help :(
Comments (2)You don't really need a meter to check the moisture in your soil. Push your finger down in the soil to see if it is moist down an inch or two. If it is then you don't need to water. If it is really soggy and wet instead of only moist, you have too much water which is usually a result of blocked or missing drain holes or poor potting mix. If it is dry it is past time to water. If you prefer to use a meter, you can check it against your "calibrated" finger and see what reading indicates water is needed. Guess it saves a dirty finger, but I like the hands on method myself. Small pots with several plants may need water a few times a day. Watch the plants and you can begin to see if they are wilting slightly. If they are it is just a bit past time to add water. If the pots have the correct potting mix and drain well you can add alot of water without worrying. The excess will drain out the holes. The planters should have potting MIX, not a bagged topsoil or soil dug up from the yard. The potting mix drains well and has air spaces that the roots need. Many of the mixes contain lots of peat and maybe some vermiculite or perlite. Most garden centers and even Target and Walmart carry suitable mixes. Miracle Gro Potting Mix is readily available but many others are as good or better. Do your pots have drain holes? If excess water cannot drain out your plants will suffer. If the holes are only on the bottom and your plants set on a flat surface they may not drain well either. If you can set them on an unueven surface or put a few sticks or stones under them, it will leave the holes open to drain. How many plants are in the pot you seeded? If the plants are too crowded they may use water so quickly that you can not keep them wet enough. Did the soil get very dry? Did the plants get real droppy? That could easily turn them dry and crispy. Sometimes they are done for then. Other times the center stem is okay and may regrow leaves from the leaf nodes. How big are your pots? Even if you water several times a day, small pots may not work well. I like to have everything in pots that are at least 10 inches across. And larger ones are even better. Your plants need light to grow, but they can come inside for awhile during heavy rain, high winds, and low temps (below 45 F.) Sometimes mine would be better inside but I'm to lazy to bring them all in :) If you can stand the heat inside your place with no AC, then your plants should be okay also. However, if you keep them in alot they will adjust to the conditions there and may get sun or wind burn when put back outside. If they are outside most of the time they get tougher and will be stronger plants. Container plants need to be fertilized. Follow label directions and don't overdo it. Too much fertilizer is worse than too little. Again, most garden centers carry a fertilizer for houseplants. Some are powders that you mix up, mine is 1/2 teas. per gallon of water. Some are spikes you stick in the pot and they fertilize for several weeks or months. What kind of plants do you have? Some do best in full sun and love the heat. Others do better in shade and don't handle high temps as well. You may need to experiment a bit to find the right ones for your area. I hope your plants are doing well. Flowers will improve the looks of most any home. Ask around and you may find another plant lover in the area who can give you advice for the local weather conditions. Otherwise keep trying. You can learn alot by watching the plants closely and seeing how they respond to various conditions. You may lose a few, but you will do better the next time....See Morebob64
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalleycallie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agovetivert8
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agobob64
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelissas
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoalleycallie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agostevet3303
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agokimnc7
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agovickey_grow
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agojimbriody01
9 years agocscruton
9 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESYou Don't Need Prairie to Help Pollinators
Woodlands, marshes, deserts — pollinators are everywhere
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 GUIDESNew Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden
Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES5 Things to Know About Weeding and Mulching Your Native Garden
What’s the best time to pull weeds? How thick should the mulch be? Here’s the scoop for a healthy landscape
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESThe Art of Green Mulch
You can design a natural garden that doesn’t rely on covering your soil with wood and bark mulch
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNNative Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style
Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Sunrose Dazzles on Dry Slopes
Abundant blooms and attractive foliage make this plant a welcome sight in sunny, well-drained spots
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN11 Design Solutions for Sloping Backyards
Hit the garden slopes running with these bright ideas for terraces, zones, paths and more
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNWhat the Heck Is a Ha-Ha, and How Can It Help Your Garden?
Take cues from a historical garden feature to create security and borders without compromising a view
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDThe 8 Tools That Help Bring the Farm to Your Table
Vegetable gardeners get a big assist from these essential helpers
Full Story
bob64