| Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 18:06:53 -0600 From: [email protected] Subject: improving the soil [T20000430003AZ33182] To: [email protected] X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.7 (Macintosh; I; PPC) X-MMC-From: Jeff Granger <[email protected]> X-MMC-To: [email protected] X-MMC-Subject: improving the soil X-MMC-Reply-To: [email protected] Sender : [email protected] Tracking Number : T20000430003AZ33182 Pool : QA Sent to : [email protected] Date : 4/30/00 7:05 PM --- Forwarded by: David Grist (no comments entered) --- I recently had what I thought was a large dumptruck load of good topsoil delivered to replace an area that had once been reserved for the kid's swingset. The soil in my area is clay that quickly turns to "cement" with lots of foot traffic. The soil that I had delivered turned out to be dark clay, a soil that my farmer friends call gumbo. So now I am trying to improve the soil before I plant my vegetable garden. The area is approximately 300 sq. ft. and so far I have added 4 large bales of spagnum peat moss, 240lbs. of composted cow manure and about 80 lbs. of sand. I have tilled it all in with my small little Echo garden tiller, and now have something resembling good soil but still with lots of hard clods. Am I on the right track? Would adding some lime help with breaking up the clay, like some people say.? If so, how much do I add, and do I have to wait if I add the lime before planting my garden? Thanks in advance for sending your reply to: [email protected] |
| You are definitely on the right track. With some more work and adding compost each season as you transition from one crop to another, that spot should turn into one fabulous garden. As for the lime, that depends on your soil pH. Your County Extension Office can assist you in having the soil pH tested. However, based on your description of the clay and the other things you added, I would suggest you go ahead and garden in the soil as it is. If a soil test shows a low pH you can always add lime later. Thanks and please stop in and visit our website again soon! |
