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- Q.Lime How Often To Apply To Garden And How Much Ash Can I Add From My Wood Stove To The Garden ? - I live in Japan an am using a former place which was a home and changed the land 100sq meters ...
- Q.Clay Soil - Can adding sand to clay soil help loosen it up? If not what do I need to add to the ...
- Q.Prepping The Soil - I have a raised bed garden. I have done nothing to them in over a year. I wasn't ...
- Q.I Am Going To Let My Garden Beds Rest This Year. - I want to replenish my soil in my beds this year. What needs to be done for that to happen? ...
- Q.Kellogg’s Amend Soil - Is it safe to use Kellogg’s amend soil directly on vegetable plants? I just planted them and I’m seeing online ...
- Q.Drainage Material For Potted Plants - A friend of mine uses Styrofoam packing material for drainage material at the bottom of his pots when potting plants. This ...
- Q.Can’t Reach This Page – Yahoo Search Results - Herbicide residual ... has anyone tried Soil Diva Reclaim to help with drift or bad compost?
Asked by
Anonymous on
April 4, 2018Q.Lime how often to apply to garden and how much ash can I add from my wood stove to the garden ?
I live in Japan an am using a former place which was a home and changed the land 100sq meters into a garden with lots of top soil on top of the sandy soil base....have added leaves, compost , ash from the woodstove and lots of cow manure as well as a gardening soil ...trying to get my soil less dense and hard ...please tell me how to test if I have reach my limit for ash...they do not seem to have a testing place here for garden soil... and also for garden lime Please tell me how often to apply the white lime which I use to try to break down the dense soil. Thanks
- Answered by
MichiganDot on
April 4, 2018A.Lime sources are used to increase pH. If you haven't tested your soil's pH, do not add lime or wood ash. (pH meters are available by mail) You may end up with such a high pH that plants won't thrive. Greensand is a product used to loosen soil. So is peat moss and coir - any organic material. Always use 2-3 inches of an organic material like compost or shredded/chipped wood as a mulch on top of the soil. Loosening heavy clay soil is a multi-year process.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/using-wood-ashes.htmWas this answer useful?00
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- Asked by
Ormalou on
April 17, 2018
Zone 7Q.Clay soil
Can adding sand to clay soil help loosen it up? If not what do I need to add to the soil?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 17, 2018
Certified ExpertA.It can, but there are many things that you will want to add to give this soil a boost. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00- Asked by
judi7677 on
April 19, 2018
Lakeville, maQ.prepping the soil
I have a raised bed garden. I have done nothing to them in over a year. I wasn't able to plant it last year. What can I do to get the soil ready for planting this season. There are 6 raised beds and each is 16x4. Thank you in Advance for your help! Judi
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 19, 2018
Certified ExpertA.I have two articles that will help you here:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/the-importance-of-soil-for-an-organic-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 20, 2018Q.I am going to let my garden beds rest this year.
I want to replenish my soil in my beds this year. What needs to be done for that to happen? Is there something I can plant to put the nutrients back into the soil? Or do I need to add lime, or other things/ I do appreciate any help you can give. Thank you, Ilene
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
April 20, 2018A.It's a great idea to plant something to help replenish your soil. There are many cover crops that can be used for this. Please see our Cover Crops section:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cover-crops/With many cover crops, you'll need to cut them down before they form seeds in order to prevent a weed problem next year.
You might also want to get a soil test initially to find out what nutrients need to be replaced:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htmIt's best to do this before adding lime or other soil amendments, so you know what and how much you need to add. It can also help you choose which cover crops would be best- for example, a legume cover crop would be best for adding nitrogen to the soil if you have low nitrogen.
Also see the Soil Management and Plant Nutrients sections of this article:
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/manual/soils/soil-and-plant-nutrition/Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
gcristian929 on
May 9, 2018
92114Q.Kellogg’s amend soil
Is it safe to use Kellogg’s amend soil directly on vegetable plants? I just planted them and I’m seeing online that this is mostly used mixed with native soil, would I need to transplant my plants? Or is it safe to say I can leave them & they will grow healthy ?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
May 9, 2018A.I went to the web site and checked on the Kellogg's amend. This amendment is meant to be mixed with your soil.
You will need to mix with soil for a proper mix.
This alone may be a struggle for plant growth.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 11, 2018Q.drainage material for potted plants
A friend of mine uses Styrofoam packing material for drainage material at the bottom of his pots when potting plants. This seems strange to me but it would not be as heavy as rock and sand. He says it will not deteriorate and the plant will drain well. How do you feel about this?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
May 11, 2018A.There are two schools of though when it comes to using styrofoam in the bottom of containers; both for drainage and fill.
They are yes or no!
I know many organic gardeners that both use the styrofoam and those that would never use them!
My own thought is use them for flowers but not vegetables.
You can do some research into the concerns on these products and make your own decision.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Todd1010 on
May 12, 2018
59101Q.Can’t reach this page – Yahoo Search Results
Herbicide residual ... has anyone tried Soil Diva Reclaim to help with drift or bad compost?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
May 12, 2018A.We do not review specific products.
This article has information on fish emulsion fertilizer.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fish-emulsion-fertilizer.htmWas this answer useful?00
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