How can I get rid of the salt in the soil?
This article should help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/reversing-soil-salinity.htm
I am have trouble getting some plants to grow in a bed. What can I do to solve this problem short of taking all the soil out and replacing it?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/improving-compacted-soil.htm
I had planned to grow my own vegetables when I found that the soil has been sprayed with "Round Up" weed killer. What do I have to do to cure the soil and make it healthy again?
Residential weed killers, like Round-up, must break down in the soil within a week or two, so unless it was commercial grade, it should not cause an current issue in the soil.
As always though, to improve the health of the soil, add organic material like compost or composted manure. Buying a container of earthworms from a bait shop and adding them to the soil will also help keep the soil healthy.
They are digging up waste land to build a new road not 5 min. from our house. They have uncovered a chemical that contains naphthalene. The smell for this chemical is like moth balls. I know it is poisonous but will we be able to eat the fruit and veggies in my garden or will I have to get rid of all my veggie and fruit trees.
As long as the soil from the location is not in your vegetable beds, then you are fine. The smell may reach you, but the chemical would be in such tiny amounts in the air that it would not be a concern.
I would however suggest that you check how the water shed in your area runs. If the location is uphill from you and you get water shed from the polluted location, this would contaminate your soil.
I asked about plants and boggy clay ground. Thank you for your answers. Question for Susan Patterson (master gardener): I already have boggy ground but would like to be advised on how to break the clay up (help with drainage) and replace with good soil. :)
I am not Susan, but I am a master gardener. Having said that, there are great differences in different parts of the country. If you have boggy soil, you need to figure out where the water is coming from and re-route it somehow. If it is coming up from below, about all you can do (that I'm familiar with) is to dig a hole near by and use a sump pump. I realize that is impractical in most cases, but if it is available, it works well.
For improving the soil, just keep adding whatever types of compost you have available. For many years, I drove around in the pickup and picked up bags of leaves in the fall from wherever I would see them. Ask friends to save lawn mowings and use them. All food except meat and things cooked in oil. Oh, but NOT tomato or potato plants or parts.
I was told that someone had put salt in my dirt. How can I tell if there is and how would I go about removing it?
The only way to know for certain is to have a soil test done. If there is salt in the soil, this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/reversing-soil-salinity.htm
We raised our garden this spring with ditch dirt that was donated by our road dept. The dirt smelled soured so we added lime and tilled it in. After planting, things did fine and then began to die back. With the exception of the tomatoes and okra, all else wilted and died. 90 degrees and raining for 8 weeks didn't help. Is it too late to replant a fall garden? We also were flooded with over 4 ft of sea water from Hurricane Isaac. I need to grow something but can't bear another loss. Not sure where to start.
These articles will help with your fall vegetable planting: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/the-southern-fall-vegetable-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/plants-fall-garden.htm (veggies near bottom)
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/seaside/growing-seaside-vegetables.htm