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suggestions for a wannabe, YUP. Do it.

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

>>>>
He used landscaping timbers  and then layered the bottom of the beds with
newspaper, then a layer of potting soil then a layer of composted cow manure,
and then topped this off with cypress mulch.

The mulch doesn't appear to be breaking down at all, and when this layered 
mess gets wet, it's like clay. 

I was thinking that maybe I'd run the lawnmower (mulching) over the last of
the leaves and grass in my yard and dump the clippings in the beds and work it
all in with my pitch fork. But I'm not sure if I should leave the cypress
mulch are not. Or maybe add some sand?

The beds are raised 12 inches, and are 4 foot deep and are built around a 10 x
16 deck, so I have plenty of space. Vicki
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<<<<
Cypress...
The stuff they make boats from.  And use for sand or gravel in some
hydroponics.
Scrape it to one side, save, use as a mulch, which doesn't break down, when
you want to mulch something.  Some mulches deteriorate, some don't.  Not  a
problem... just different.  Like plastic mulch.

Was the soil manure ever mixed?  Why not?

Keep it all the correct moisture.  If you can't be sure, a meter/probe is $4.

Not friable?  Add gypsum.  50lbs is $6.  Try about 5 lbs in a sq yd, a lb at a
time, until you figure out the mix, or follow the directions.  No sand. 
Vermiculie is OK, and hold water.  perlite also, but less water, more air and
is hard, where vermiculite is soft.  Carrots like soft, or finer like sand. 
But just sand and clay give you nothing.  Sawdust is some amount is OK, but
may require Nitrogen to compensate, if no redwood etc.

I suggest many of you get a $15 kit to check your N,P,K, pH . The kit works
10x for each thing.  By the time you use it 2-5 times each year, you'll have a
feel for YOUR soil and amendments.  KEEP A RECPORD of what where how much for
mnext year.  Whether by cup or handful... write it down.  Draw a pic of the
garden.  SAVE it.


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