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Re: [PRIMROSES] Bed Preparation

Any indigenous plants that are composted are composted. I know that sounds
kind of smart but it is just that simple. If you compost hardwood from your
area then place it in/on/around your garden it will improve the soil in
ways that can not be purchased from any other source. It is not the compost
that does the trick, it is the symbiotic relationship between all the
organisms working on the organic matter. Fungi that colonize the organic
matter help the plants take up the nutrients in the soil and in the
structural stabilization of the soil. Fungi named golmales secret a sticky
substance called glomalin that helps hold soil together. The hairlike
filaments, hyphae, are important in the nutrient and water uptake which
reduces the need for additional fertilizer. All this helps conserve water
in drought and the proper structure reduces the effect of periods of too
much water. A hunk of clay and petroleum based fertilizer just won't do the
trick.

The work occurs when the organic matter is added to the plant area. At that
point mother earth starts the symbiotic process that creates the healthy
soil that leads to the beauty we seek above ground.



At 06:29 AM 12/28/97 EST, SMITHIRIS wrote:
>In a message dated 97-12-27 22:02:39 EST, ECPep@AOL.COM writes:
>
><<  This winter a
> tree crew trimming the power lines free of overhanging branches has been
> dumping truckloads of chipped wood behind our barn.  It may be a lifetime
> supply.  Once in a while a gardener gets lucky. >>
>
>Claire and others,
>After reading this post, I got some notes out from an old gardening class I
>attended, to see what was said about using hardwood in z5/6 gardens. They
>didn't recommend it. They're reasoning was that it took too long to break
>down. Plus, most of the roadside trees that are being trimmed around in this
>are Locus or Hedge. That's the ones with thorns and big green Hedge apples.
>Please advise if this type of hardwood COULD be used as mulch if not put over
>the plants in winter.
>
>Thank you,
>Sue Smith
>Missouri z5/6
>
>

"Conflict is as addictive as nicotine, alcohol, drugs, etc.
I'm sorry to report that cooperation is not."
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