Re: Subject: bindweed killer
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Subject: bindweed killer
- From: D* G*
- Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 07:31:09 -0500
At 07:49 PM 2/2/2000 EST, you wrote:
>> The short story is that improving the decay properties of a soil is a
>> matter of balancing pH and aeration.
>
>And of adding organic matter. The short answer to soil problems is almost
>always -- compost!
>
>Anyway, that was a very fine report, Doug! --Janis
>
Normally, I'd agree with you that adding compost is almost always a good idea.
But in this case adding organic matter in the form of compost will *NOT*
solve the problem. This is the "almost" part of your answer.
The soil problem lies in the fact that it can *not* decompose the organic
matter that is already present. Adding more organic matter does not improve
the situation, it only adds to it.;-) If you add your compost by digging
it in - it is the *digging* that starts to solve the problem and not the
compost. If you simply sheet compost, (lay it on the surface) then the
compost does nothing to help the situation.
So, in order to get the soil working - to get it to decompose the organic
matter that is there - you have to aerate and balance the pH. Once you get
it working, then the compost will be of use to the soil.
I hope I was a bit clearer this time.
Doug
Doug Green,
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