Re: Improving the Soil
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Improving the Soil
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 03:33:35 -0500
Well, I think that if the plants in that bed are doing OK, then just
mulch the top and let the earthworms work. Many plants grow just
fine in unamended clay...which is often not nutritive poor, just
lacking in organic matter, plus having a tight texture.
If you have plants that are not doing well, you need to dig them up
and amend the soil in as large an area around them as you are able to
do - and replant. The object with clay is generally to improve
drainage (if it is needed - I have quite a bit of clay that drains
very well) and add organic material, which helps improve the tilth
and provide "food" for the soil organisms who turn it into stuff that
plant roots can use.
If you dig a hole in heavy clay and fill it with organic material -
even bulb planter size - and especially with smooth sides, you're
creating a mini bath tub that will collect water. The organic
material won't move out of the hole on its own accord. Eventually
plant roots will find that little cache and either like it or drown
in it, depending on what's happening in that hole.
Actually, perennial beds and borders really need to be re-worked
every few years...the plants dug up, divided and the soil dug over
and amended. Shrub borders should have whatever you plan to do done
when you plant and then just mulched.
If you really feel the soil needs improving for the plants you want
to grow, then I'd suggest taking that bed a section at a time and
every year, dig things up, amend and replant in that section. Make
the sections a size you can handle easily and in a few years, you'll
have amended the entire bed:-) Personally, when I do a new perennial
bed, I try to double dig it to start out with and find I can get away
with mulching and top dressing for a lot of years:-) Of recent
years, I've just spread a foot or so of rotted woodchips on my root
infested natural soil and planted it that. That has its plusses and
minuses, but sure gives you a nice loose planting medium.
Just my 2 cents FWIW
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Tammy Jones <tammlyn@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Date: Friday, January 19, 2001 1:25 PM
>
> Any tips on improving the soil in an existing bed? Last fall, when
I
> went to plant some perennials in an existing bed, I was shocked by
the
> condition of the soil - very heavy, light colored clay just below
the
> surface.
>
> I truly do not want to dig it out, amend and replant - and thought
about
> using a "bulb planter" to incorporate some organic matter deep
between
> the plants - and then organic mulch on top.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Tammy
> Zone 5a
> Mid Missouri
