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- Q.Transplanting In A Garden Re-Do - I inherited garden space at my apartment that hasn't been attended to in ages. I'm planning on tilling up ...
- Q.Do You Sell Lava Rock Or Pumice For Gardening - I just wanted to know if you sell lava rock Or pumice for no-till gardening? And can you tell ...
- Q.Back Garden Drainage ? - Over these past 5 years the drainage on our small back garden has failed. There are several trees, and bushes, ...
- Q.Why Do You Make A Blanket Statement Telling People To Put Wood Ash In Their Gardens? - I am a retired Extension Horticulturist in eastern Nebraska. Typical soils in gardens in our area are 8. (Farms are ...
- Q.I’ve Stored Some Chopped Seaweed For 3 Months In Semi-sealed Black Plastic Bag. Is It Fit To Use On The Garden? It Smells Off - I wonder if anaerobic bacteria has developed. It’s slimy and has a strong smell of both the sea(as expected) and ...
- Q.Plus And Minus Of Sand Topping - A well-meaning relative gave me five bags of black sand topping to make my house plants look better and ...
- Q.Bordeaux Mixture And Slaked Lime? - A bit confused. In your recipe for Bordeaux Mixture you state "Slaked lime is calcium oxide, and once introduced to ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
October 20, 2019Q.Transplanting in a Garden Re-Do
I inherited garden space at my apartment that hasn't been attended to in ages. I'm planning on tilling up my stone-filled "hell" and amending the soil. My question is should I dig up the few plants (namely, rue, lilac, basil, and hollyhocks)that thrived and till the whole bed, or till around them?
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
October 21, 2019
Certified ExpertA.The existing plants, especially if they are well established, will stand a better chance of survival and revival if left in place. But it is sometimes difficult and time consuming to work around established plantings with soil improvements.
If it is nice, large lilac bush, I would keep it, but the others are easily replaced if you don't want to bother transplanting them.
If you decide to remove and temporarily store the existing plants, dig them with as much soil root ball as possible. Keep that root ball intact with burlap wrapping or by placing them in pots with soil backfill. Keep the soil moist and the plants in the shade through the process. If removing and replanting, spring will be a better time to do this.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/overgrown-landscape-beds.htm
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
November 29, 2019Q.Do you sell lava rock or pumice for gardening
I just wanted to know if you sell lava rock Or pumice for no-till gardening? And can you tell me where you’re located or do you just ship your products?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
November 29, 2019
Certified ExpertA.I am sorry, no. We do not sell garden products or make product recommendations. We offer gardening information.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
oldlearner on
December 11, 2019
Sk8 7AtQ.Back Garden Drainage ?
Over these past 5 years the drainage on our small back garden has failed. There are several trees, and bushes, but the soil is heavy clay underneath. In hot summers! the ground is rock hard. But in the wet the rain lies on the lawn to a depth of two to three inches - for days. and floods half way up the lawn to the back of the house. We have been here 30 years, without this problem before. I checked on a hole the gas pipe people have just laid outside the front garden, -and although it was a metre deep, there was little water in the bottom. My house is in the middle of a block- with other gardens to the right, left and bottom, the house on my left has the same problem, the house on my right and bottom fence - both back on to a sub station. (where the ground is paved of course). seem unaffected. The land was farming meadow until 1965. any suggestions please?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
December 11, 2019
Certified ExpertA.It sounds as though the clay soil has gotten compacted. You will have to contact the local authorities in your country before you start digging around, though. There may be lines, or things underground that wouldn't be good to hit.
You will have to amend your soil for drainage. If that fails, you will have to install drains that can take water out of your yard.
These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/how-to-easily-improve-your-clay-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
January 14, 2020Q.Why do you make a blanket statement telling people to put wood ash in their gardens?
I am a retired Extension Horticulturist in eastern Nebraska. Typical soils in gardens in our area are 8. (Farms are a different matter as the fertilizers they use acidify the soils.) We have a big problem with chlorosis of trees because the high pH binds nutrients to the soils. When I was working (and my colleagues who still work) I would get tired of telling people not to spread fireplace ashes in their gardens, and don't lime their yards just because some professional on TV from the East Coast said to do so. Always advise people to take a soil test before doing any type of ammending to the soil. (P.S. the water coming out of our taps in Omaha has a pH of 9.)
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
January 14, 2020
Certified ExpertA.You make a valid point to always do a soil test before amending the soil, such as when applying fireplace ashes. We will pass the comment on to the editors.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
gilloram on
January 21, 2020
Western Scotland’s, Highlands. Fort WilliamQ.I’ve Stored Some Chopped Seaweed For 3 Months In Semi-sealed Black Plastic Bag. Is It Fit To Use On The Garden? It Smells Off
I wonder if anaerobic bacteria has developed. It’s slimy and has a strong smell of both the sea(as expected) and of something rotten. I don’t think a picture is needed.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
January 21, 2020
Certified ExpertA.If it smells rotten, then I wouldn't recommend using it.This could introduce some soil infections that may be very difficult to get rid of.
It is best to freeze, or compost for long term storage. Unfortunately, I do not think that it would be a good idea to use this batch.
These articles will offer some useful information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-seaweed.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/making-fertilizer-from-seaweed.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizing-with-seaweed.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/using-kelp-fertilizer.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
cjj84 on
February 3, 2020
New York, NYQ.Plus And Minus Of Sand Topping
A well-meaning relative gave me five bags of black sand topping to make my house plants look better and fight fungus gnats. I don’t really have a fungus gnats problem ( just a few occasionally flying around) and most of my plants are going to be repotted come spring. Is there any downside to putting the stuff on a few of my house plants? I live in a small plant-filled apartment, and don’t have space to store bags of sand I don’t need!
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
February 3, 2020
Certified ExpertA.It, actually, makes a good soil amendment and topdress! The only concerns that you will have will be that you can no longer tell, visually, when your plants will need to be watered. This will have to be tested with a moisture meter, or by weighing the container, both, fully saturated and almost fully dry.
Personally, I like to mix sand into soils to make it able to drain off extra water faster. This may, or may not be necessary, depending on how fast your pots dry out, already. It can help break up soils that have a high clay content as well.
Was this answer useful?10 - Asked by
Anonymous on
February 14, 2020Q.Bordeaux Mixture and Slaked lime?
A bit confused. In your recipe for Bordeaux Mixture you state "Slaked lime is calcium oxide, and once introduced to water, it becomes calcium hydroxide." But I thought calcium oxide (CaO) is 'quicklime' and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is 'slaked lime' or 'hydrated lime'. Calcium oxide is quite a reactive sustance and was used for rapidly decomposing corpses!
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
February 14, 2020
Certified ExpertA.You are right, and the article has been corrected.
Thanks for letting us know.
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