Putting organic matter in clay soil
8 years ago
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- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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What is ideal % of organic matter in soil?
Comments (23)Moving dirt from another area of the yard is not an option. I've done that in the past, and there's no more "extra". The company I'm talking about is called "Missouri Organic". Their definition of their top soil is: "sandy loam mix pulverized and screened for constant texture and ease of application" The definition of their compost is: "humus rich organic matter made from lawn, garden, and tree trimmings, thoroughly processed using bacteria, heat, and aeration to a state most readily and effectively used by the soil" It's lab tested for contamination from herbicide and pesticide contamination, free of weed seeds and harmful pathogens. It's way cheaper and better quality to buy this stuff in bulk, than to buy bags at Home Depot. Deanna...See MorePreserving soil structure vs. digging in organic matter
Comments (56)Well, shrubs, I don't disturb the soil much with my method of growing potatoes. I simply lay the seed potatoes on the surface and cover with mulch, usually chopped leaves. Harvesting involves pulling the mulch off and picking up the spuds. Having said that, while Ma Nature doesn't get out there with her 6 HP Troy-Bilt tiller, I don't see her growing much in the way of eggplant, peppers and tomatoes out in the wild either. I wonder why that is? I'm in favor of a program of limited tilling when it is necessary. When is it necessary? Every garden or field will be different but if the difference is not tilling and waiting years for the earthworms to do their thing so I can grow a carrot or getting organic matter into the soil and crops off it in the same year, then some form of tilling is the way to go for me. I double dig most of my raised garden beds. The disturbance of the soil structure seems to have little to no visible negative effects and I for one am not alarmed at harming the mycorrhizal fungi. Nor am I going to avoid tilling when it will benefit me in order to avoid injuring the earthworms. (Earthworms, which as noted in other threads, are noxious invaders of this northern forest I call home.) Nor will I rely soley on methods Ma Nature uses to build soil, since in my limited years left on the planet and my need to feed myself during those years, I recognize that Ma Nature has had approximately a 10,000 year head start on me in the soil-building department. Wayne...See MorePutting organic matter in clay soil
Comments (11)When people say they have clay soil, we understand that they have stiff, heavy, and lumpy soil that clods up. Actually, most of this 'clay' soil is a mixture of clay, silt, and sand, but the clay portion is too high for good friabilty and is is not much fun to work. Adding organic matter regularly from outside sources and cover crops is a main way to 'loosen' that soil up some and put more life into the soil. Also these clayey soils can usually be helped by additions of sand and peat moss. These are instant texture additions that can go along with improving the soil in the usual good ways....See MoreWhat kind of organic matter to use in high phosphorus clay soil?
Comments (6)Sand is not the thing to add - sorry, because I know you would have worked very hard in doing that. Sand involves the most work but the smallest reward. Leaves from deciduous trees would be a great thing for your soil. It's a question of what you have close to hand. Where I am, I am surrounded by suburbs of deciduous trees and I spend a lot of time collecting them and building piles wherever I deem a good place for a pile to be, which seems to be an ever-increasing number of sites. Improving a soil takes time, but if done over time and using the right sort of things, you will one day have lovely soil. For your bulb garden, a raised bed will provide drainage. It's hard to explain how this is so, but rest assured that the reason for raised beds is because of the drainage they provide. Can you describe what you are starting with? For example, is there any sort of garden, grass, weeds, concrete. A new place or an existing garden of some kind? We are operating in the dark here a little, I think. And what sort of stuff is available for you to get?...See More- 8 years ago
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