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Garden Gate:  Question about filling in garden soil  |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 05:12:26 AM
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Our lower garden is really really black dirt...almost like peat. We need to add something to it since last year half of it flooded it out when we had three straight days of a hard rain. (Which is hilarious because our upper garden could be floating in a river and still need water. :)) We need to add something to the soil...my husband said straight sand would help. I wasn't sure. It needs to drain better or something. Any suggestions about how to help the soil? Its a great place to grow on dry years, and its fantastically magical soil...but if we have another big blotch of rainstorms this year, I'm afraid it will flood out again. (Moving the garden, at this point, is not an option.)
Looking for farmgirl suggestions. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 05:51:38 AM
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Your DH is right, mix in some sand and if you have some dry leaves laying around mix them in too. Maybe a barrier of rocks or old rail-road ties would also help keep the soil from washing out.
Why not go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is! "Mark Twain"
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1158 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2010 : 11:04:35 AM
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Yes, I agree. I was thinking to myself maybe you should take some soil from your other bed, add it to this one and vice versa! If your other bed drains too quickly, then you will want to add something (like maybe this black soil, or good compost) to it to help retain moisture. I love compost, I prescribe it for all my garden's ills!
Ideally you are shooting for a 'loamy' soil, which just means that it isn't too sandy and isn't too 'clayey'. A soil with great tilth, when moist and squeezed in your palm will not fall apart into a zillion pieces (too sandy), nor should it remain tightly packed in a ball (too clay-ey). It should break into several large pieces which crumble when you add light pressure. It takes work to achieve a good loamy soil sometimes :0)
Here's a link all about soil tilth, although it is about Colorado soil, I think you will find help on Page 8!
http://cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes/213.pdf
Adventures in Homesteading!
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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KD Earthwork
True Blue Farmgirl
210 Posts
Katie
Gualala
Calif.
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 4:48:40 PM
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I learned in "Soils Class" that you never want to add sand to clay or heavy soil.That it weighs it down and compacts it.Organic matter is what is recommended and it sure works for me.
But I'm not sure about your soils.We do get almost 90-100" of rain a year in a normal year where I work and manure has been great to lighten soil for me.
Landscaping large gardens for 31 years, Katie |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4567 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4567 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 5:33:31 PM
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what about peat? I have worked that into my strawberry beds. Lightens it up
'
Michele |
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Garden Gate: Question about filling in garden soil |
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Question about filling in garden soil
