Let's talk soil amendments, e.g. pumice, pine fines
bluegirl_gw
10 years ago
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strawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
pH question: charcoal as soil amendment
Comments (68)@John, I wasn't trying to pass judgment and apologise if it sounded that way. Just discussing. A meandering discussion: I was trying to draw a distinction between air pollution (e.g. particulate matter) which burning wood does cause; and greenhouse gases on the other. (I was mostly making this point in the context of the charcoal-in-soil issue - where making charcoal may not produce much CO2 but sure does produce air pollution) Air pollution: there are contexts in which burning wood makes sense and for those in more rural locations - I understand it; but it does produce air pollutants like particulate matter that have negative health effets - but concentration matters therefore distance etc from others matters. (I still think gas preferable if available from air pollution perspective but I'm not passing judgment - unless you live next door to me and are burning your wet leaves, in which case you'll definitely hear from me). Greenhouse gas discussion a lot more complex - I won't pretend to know how to best calculate GG trade-off between eg wood and gas, and if you need heat, you need to get it from somewhere. (Apart from other issues, methane leakage from pipelines and production probably worse than the CO2 from burning it). Not everyone gets cheap electric heat from hydro (including me). I was only making the point that when trees rot, not all gets converted into CO2, and how long it takes to get turned into CO2 matters from a GG/climate perspective. But that doesn't say much, the choice isn't usually burn it or leave it on the ground, but rather burn it or get the heat from some other source, and that other source matters. (And there are other factors like cost) And I'm just discussing here. I have an occasional wood fire for pleasure, I'm not a fanatic....See MoreBest Soil additive for succulents-Turface, Pumice, Decomp Granite
Comments (16)Does the Decomposed granite have clay in it?? This differs around the country. I used a washed decomposed granite compost mixture because I fave found that the unwashed clayey stuff does not drain as much as I like. They have 3 grades of DG. I add a pea gravel or crushed granite to mix into the ground for chunky ness. I also add lava sand and basalt sand for fertilizing reasons. I just leaned that the washed granite has other exotic fertile sands mixed into it. I make soil like a cook who stares at the inside of a refrigerator looking for inspiration. I also recommend the addition of blood meal for the roots . Sometimes I add expanded shale as a pumice substitute. No nitrogen I pile all this on top of broken up construction trash to get a good mound going. The guy below adds pine bark to his mixture He has a illustration in the instructions below. I think he used to be in top of Texas gumbo but has moved west. I am not sure what his ground is now. $14 per 40lb would be a steel in Texas. You can't find it in Austin. I pay that for Lava sand and more than that for basalt sand. I buy my DG and soil products from people who sell bulk ground products. where one can load it yourself or get it by the ton or 1/2 or more cubic yard. google bulk soil products for your area or bulk landscaping supplies. I have a place that lets me load up 10 gallon pots full of stuff in my little car . Yes I am a dirty car person. Here is a link that might be useful: Yuccado instructions for dry garden...See MoreFast Draining Soil Amendment (So Cal)
Comments (29)gardengal, thanks for understanding my confused position ^_^ You're totally right, it's a large container, and I'll scoot over to that section. As an update for y'all, and in tragic case someone else is in my boat, I dumped all the soil. Truthfully, it was mostly a logical decision, but there was some "start anew" emotions in there too. As an ironic twist, my work had a company event at a small farm, and over a few glasses of wine, I had a great discussion with the farmer there, and after asking "should I start over?" He said, "the fact you asked that, means you already know the answer." But, I'll tell ya, it's a lot easier putting it in, than taking it out! Anywho, I'm starting over with a nice organic soil mixed about 60/40 with a cactus mix. I'd love to do the 5-1-1 or the gritty mix, but it's just impossible for me to find the ingredients, and they seem so specific about grain size, decomposition level, etc. that my brain almost blew up, so the owner at my local organic nursery said, if the mix doesn't work, bring back a clump, and I'll refund all your money. So, I was sold. I loved his advice, "spend 80% on your soil and 20% on your plants." Which I think is spot on. As far as what I would tell others in my situation, don't rush the soil. For the most part, that means don't just grab something from a big box place, which doesn't list it's ingredients. Like most things in life, if you don't know what's in it, then you won't know what comes out of it. Thanks again for all your feedback, and although I'll scoot over to container garden country for my future inquiries, I'll keep y'all updated on my progress! (cues "The More You [Gr]ow" song)...See MoreDo soil amendment products really help our adobe clay soils?
Comments (34)Someone here is having good results with amending clay with 50 percent sand and then topping the area with sandy loam. The nurseryman who runs Laguna Hills Nsy and gave the soils class takes the stock he buys and removes most of the mix around the roots. Then he replaces it in peat moss, perlite, pumice,sand and some charcoal. He would add more sand in the mix he sells bagged but the bags would rip or be too expensive to ship. The charcoal is there because the world's best soils have some charcoal content. A building supply in Costa Mesa sells something called Rick's mix that is sandy loam and decomposed granite for improving clay. I have used the best potting mixes I could buy and watch the plants die off in a year. With the mix from Laguna Hills, it doesn't happen. Now I use a mix of my own soil, sand and the Laguna Hills formula. I have been making charcoal all winter and sifting it to throw out the ash which is alkaline. In the old days the nurseries planted in Sandy loam and sold bareroot. No one amended the holes or they planted high in large mounds or raised beds if drainage was poor. Now the wholesalers who planted in real soil are being edged out by those who plant in composted wood. The plants grow fast and are lighter to ship but eventually the breakdown of the planting material kills the plant. You can slow the process by letting the mix dry out almost completely before watering again, but it stresses the plants, especially in our warm climate. In the old days, a nursery could water every day with no root problems at all. A nursery could keep their stock for years and water every day and feed once a month until it sold. Now it's a race to sell the plant before the mix degrades and the roots die. The nurseries have to move their stock quick before then. Even if you plant it in good soil, the plant might not make it to five years because the mix around the trunk has become poisonous to the plant. Some plants grow fast enough to get roots out beyond into good soil. Arborists use augers to drill out holes around the trunk and backfill with sand to get the oxygen into the toxic area. You can also dig into one side and replace with 100 percent soil and six months later do the other side. The formula is stay away from three times the diameter of the trunk when removing roots. That was the formula for moving plants sold in soil wrapped with burlap. Any plant you fix needs to be shaded for two weeks. You can also help them by spraying the leaves with 1 gallon water 1 oz Karo syrup 1 oz seaweed 1 oz fish fertilizer a little wetting agent I hope this helps anyone trying to save a plant. I think it's rotten that plants are being sold that they know will have problems later on. People think it's their fault. The landscape reflects the trend towards only plants that can overcome the crappy potting mix and we all get taught wrongly to add this stuff to the soil at planting time....See Morebluegirl_gw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agosandandsun
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoLynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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