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Questions about Soil Amendments

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

Hi, Sq. Footers --

As a new gardener, I am a little confused about a couple of soil amendment /
additive products.

PEAT MOSS
* Does it help raise the pH of soil? If so, I definitely need to addextra
lime because I have fairly acidic soil (5.3).

* Does it make soil *spongy*? Or, if so, have I added too much?

* Does it help soil retain water? If so, does sand then help it to drain better?

VERMICULITE / PERLITE
* What is the difference between these? Not so much what they are (tho I'm
interested in that), but what they do for soil, or how they perform, or when
to use them?

GREENSAND and ROCK PHOSPHATE
* Both add potash, right (what IS potash, anyway)? When would you use one
rather than the other? If the greensand bag says 0 - 0 - 0.5, how would you
mix that in with, say, blood meal and bone meal? 

* Can either of these be used instead of Wood Ash -- ?? And if so, in what
amounts / proportions?  (I think Mel's soil amendment recipe includes it,
but they laughed at me at the garden center when I asked about it. I may
have some after this coming winter, but for now, no.)

COTTONSEED MEAL
What does it do? Fertilizer? 

LOL -- Did I say I was a *little* confused? 

Thanks to everyone for a very enlightening, fun list. I've learned lots --
but still have SO many questions. I've been holding back a bit, but I'm
beginning to burst at the seams. Next, I'll have to start addressing some of
my *problem areas,* and I do have a few. :-(

Patricia
Zone 6B, West Georgia


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