Re: Using compost
Hello Diann,
Each to his own on just how much effort you want to put into your plants. I
think the simple answer is .. if you pay $5 for a plant, dig a $50 hole to put it
in. Make the best of your investment, not only in money, but time and hopefully
the final results.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Diann Barbee Thoma <diannthoma@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: [SG] Using compost
> Thanks all! This is interesting and helpful.
>
> My intent is actually purely from a concern over soil composition. Although
> I have (esp the last 3 years) amended every plant hole I've dug, right below
> it is almost invariably pretty clayish dirt.
>
> Also, I have a question concerning amending while planting a new plant in
> existing gardens that have always been created piecemeal (plant by plant; I
> have newish shade gardens planted within preexisting mature trees and
> shrubs). It seems fairly accepted that, when planting a tree or shrub, you
> only dig deep and wide enough to accommodate the existing roots; and that
> few if any amendments are used. But what about, for example, digging in a
> new hosta? Lately I've been digging ~3" deeper than the roots, mixing
> amendments in with that bottom 3" while making certain to create rough jabs
> in the dirt that won't get amended (breaking the "clay bowl"); and making
> the hole about twice as wide and using mostly amendments to fill in around
> the plant. Should I make these holes as big and wide as I have time to
> plant?? Go to the trouble of mixing the old filler dirt with the amendments
> when completing the job, or?
>
> Thanks again!
> Diann
