Fwd: Leucadendron
- Subject: Fwd: Leucadendron
- From: emhoffs e*@ucla.edu
- Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 10:22:17 -0800
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Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 11:47:46 -0800 (PST)
From: David King <greenmanus@yahoo.com>
Subject: Leucadendron
To: emhoffs@ucla.edu
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Ellen,
Beware! Most books, garden writings, do not address
gardening in Southern California. We do share soil or
climate characteristics with most of the rest of the
world, hence they're directions are frequently
incorrect for our gardens.
I vote for nothing added. Mom Nature is a powerful
thing. The little plant will soon have sent it's
roots far beyond the area you have amended no matter
what you use and will have to, sooner or later, get
used to the soil you have either blessed or cursed
them with. If they cannot survive in that soil, no
amount of effort on your part will make them survive
on the inputs you provide. There's just an awful lot
of weight on the other side.
Gardeners used to amend and work their tush off
providing their plants with all sorts of effort in
planting them. It was the rule of gardening even just
a few years ago. Gradually, research (a LOT of it at
Davis) has proven how puny our efforts are in the face
of the power of Nature. The one thing that does seem
to make a credible difference, is the addition of
mycorrhizae solution (which populates the soil
immediately adjacent to the roots system with little
critters that seem to effect a change in what the root
comes in contact with) and lots of mulch, wood chips
etc, around the base of the plant. The mulch
encourages micro-flora and fauna (much the same thing
as option one) and the "amending" of the soil will
take place over time by the macro-fauna of the soil
(primarily earthworms).
It is, as we understand today, more beneficial than
the old way, and it's certainly a LOT less work. I
think that's a win/win proposition.
I retired, btw, from UCLA, last November 4th.
david
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