At my new home I discovered we have a solid clay soil situation with awful drainage. I have been mulching all the new raised planting areas but worry about the health of my new palms and trees (a live oak and four crape myrtles) plus two holly trees.

I found liquid aeration product, Nature's Lawn, and have used it once and about to use it again. Can adding this type of product truly improve soil conditions? What about adding liquid humic acid or lime?

I am in Port St Lucie, Florida, zone 9b and I have already added French drains for all gutter downspouts and two surface water collection boxes tied into drains. Draining water to back alley behind home where large drains are located.

Thank you all in advance!

Keep putting organic matter on the surface! Leaves, pine needles, mulch, compost, grass from mower bag (if you've mowed before any seeds have formed,) whatever presents itself whenever it presents itself. The other ingredient is time. :+)

https://permaculturenews.org/2...

Hello!

The liquid aeration /soil amendment I have purchased is from Nature's Lawn, here is their website.
https://www.natureslawn.com/pr...

It contains natural ingredients to help me get the oxygen back down to the roots, help the plants absorb these nutrients. Aerífero Plus. Please let me know your opinion on this product?

Mowed grass clippings remain on the lawn and I mix cuttings when trimming shrubs beneath the layers of mulch as well.

It's hard to find clean mulch at an affordable price; I prefer to use mini pine bark chips but these bags are so pricey. Only found at Lowe's near me. The regular shredded brown mulch turns to muck and when it remains wet it gets moldy. I'm afraid that mulch contains harmful chemicals to color it as well as the processing chemicals.

I'm hoping that adding more Aerify Plus to the lawn and planted areas helps create a healthier environment for growth for my young trees. Keeping my trees healthy and promoting their strength is an obsession as I am hoping they develop strong root systems to withstand hurricanes and our wild weather extremes.

Your advice is appreciated and suggestions welcomed.
Gilda

Oh, I amended the soil wherever I planted new trees and shrubs with Black Cow, perlite, Miracle Grow garden soil, peat humus and a very thick top layer of natural pine bark mini chunks mulch.

I also tried to elevate all new planting areas above the "grass level" to help their drainage.

I can't give an opinion of a product I've never tried. I don't use chemicals of any kind, or bags of anything except for potted plants. The link I pasted has much more information about how keeping any kind of organic matter layer on the top of the soil will, over time, dramatically improve the soil, in terms of texture, fertility, and moderation of moisture.

Agree, I also avoid any kind of coloring or chemical treatments when buying mulch. Shredded wood is all that is needed, or bark if you prefer. Bark is more likely to move around and decomposes much more slowly, which makes its' contribution to the soil equally more slow. Any organic material your property generates can be used as mulch, or composted first, then added to soil surface.

One of many articles about the myth of amending planting holes:

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/...

Thank you so much!

I'm assuming you don't have hardpan ? Is that right ?
Heavy clay, needs all the organic matter you can feed it.

Instead of buying, chemicals, bags of mulch, bark, etc.
If you live in Towne ? Ask your neighbors to save there grass clippings, leaves, and bush trimmings for you. You can even take them some plastic garbage bags, for encouragement.👍

Alot of cities give free mulch away.

Or, you could buy bulk compost, etc, from a landscape supply, or garden supply. They usually deliver free, if you buy a yard or more. A yard, is 4 feet square. They can tell you best choice for your needs, and how many yards you will need.

I'd forget the chemicals, and bags.
Mulch heavy, and, SAVE YOU, some dinneros. 🕵️😀

😎😎😎

Thanks!

Sadly no mulch giveaways or compost giveaways here and everyone keeps their grass clippings as well. I mulch heavily so in time I know I'll be amending the soil that way however to help my young trees develop healthy structure I'm looking to add stuff that can assist in helping them absorb nutrients.

I had no shade here so I installed a live oak plus numerous palms and crape myrtle trees. Already have loads of birds and two nests in the yard! Trying to create an oasis for the birds and myself as well as a shade canopy for my orchids. And bring relief from the summer heat as well.

Thanks All!