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Starting a garden, amending soil
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Posted by idaho_gardener 6a_sw_idaho (My Page) on Wed, Nov 21, 07 at 23:02
| I'm hoping for some soil prep advice from fellow gardeners from Idaho. I have double-dug a plot, and I'm using a variation on 'lasagna' gardening on another plot.
I had my soil tested and it came back low on Phosphorus and Nitrogen, and high in pH. I listened to the extension office person's recommendations, but they sounded like she read to me from a book; add Phosphorus, add Nitrogen, add Sulfur, add organic material, test again next year. I knew that much before I called.
What have people been doing to amend their soils?
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Follow-Up Postings:
No replies, so here's what I'm doing
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| I double dug a plot. I broadforked the subsoil and treated the subsoil with Sulfur, Zamzow's Huma Green, and super Phosphate. I threw some of the sod that I scalped off the lawn on top of that, then I replaced the topsoil. The topsoil got treated with more Huma Green, super Phosphate, Sulfur, compost and coffee grounds. The second bed is variations of lasagna beds. I don't expect that to amount to a very good garden bed next spring, but it should suffice for a corn patch. |
RE: Starting a garden, amending soil
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| how did that sod do? it has so much dirt and humus but i have a huge problem already with grass in everything. was that a problem for you? |
RE: Starting a garden, amending soil
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Hmmm... I never thought about putting the sod back underneath everything. That is a great idea. I am curious, too. Was the grass able to grow up through to the top?
I am building beds right now, also, and one of my problems is what to do with the sod. Very interesting idea. So take off the sod, probably take out about six inches to a foot of soil and put the sod back and on top of that put back the original soil with the amendments? I think that might work and I wouldn't have to buy so much soil to put back in. Anyone??? |
RE: Starting a garden, amending soil
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| Hi guys. Sorry for the delay in answering. The sod was buried under 8 or more inches of topsoil. No, it has not grown up through the soil yet. The double dug bed has been pretty weed free. The tilled beds are a bit weedy. I guess it becomes a matter of when you want to do the work; up front (double dug bed), or later with weeding. If I get a chance, I'll dig another double dug bed. |
RE: Starting a garden, amending soil
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| We bought land that had been cattle pasture, so I've added lots of organic matter. For both my flowers and vegetables, I've added lots of horse manure mixed with straw, along with any leaves, grass clippings, etc. I could find. The flower gardens I started a year and half ago are looking pretty good; nice soft loamy soil. The ones I started this year still need more stuff added to them. |
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