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Archive for the compost tag

How to prepare soil for planting

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Good soil preparation in the spring means great plants for years to come

by Steven Nikkila 

Remove all existing plants to be excluded from the garden. Pay special attention to remove all perennial weeds and their roots, such as the dandelion removed by this digging fork.
1. Remove all existing plants to be excluded from the garden. When you prepare soil, pay special attention to remove all perennial weeds and their roots, such as the dandelion removed by this digging fork.
When removing grass, cut it deep enough to remove all roots.
2. When removing grass, cut it deep enough to remove all roots.
Loosen the soil with a spading fork. Insert the fork as far as possible into the soil and “pop” it by pulling back on the handle.
3. Loosen the soil with a spading fork. Insert the fork as far as possible into the soil and “pop” it by pulling back on the handle.
“Pop” the entire garden. If the soil is hard-packed so it pops in clumps, do not break up the clumps. Just spread 2 to 3 inches of compost over the garden.
4. “Pop” the entire garden. If the soil is hard-packed so it pops in clumps, do not break up the clumps. Just spread 2 to 3 inches of compost over the garden.
Compost that falls between clumps of hard-packed soil allows air, water and space for the plant roots. Microorganisms in the soil, root growth, freezing, and thawing will gradually cause the clumps to crumble and mix with the compost. Additionally, if you don’t find any worms, you can add some to the soil. Worms are excellent aerators of soil and help in the decomposition of organic matter, which in turn helps the plants grow.
5. Compost that falls between clumps of hard-packed soil allows air, water and space for the plant roots. Microorganisms in the soil, root growth, freezing, and thawing will gradually cause the clumps to crumble and mix with the compost. Additionally, if you don’t find any worms, you can add some to the soil. Worms are excellent aerators of soil and help in the decomposition of organic matter, which in turn helps the plants grow.
Rototilling can loosen soil, but be aware of some drawbacks. First, if you need to loosen deeply, the tiller may not penetrate deep enough. Second, repeated tilling can pulverize the soil into near dust. Soil crumbs will collapse on themselves and air won’t be able to reach the plant roots—and air is essential. Third, you can glaze a clay soil with the fast-turning tines, causing drainage and root penetration problems. Yet another note of caution: If you till existing plants into the bed, they will likely come back, and you will later have to control them with herbicides, pulling or smothering. In this case, you may not be able to plant until later in the year.
6. Rototilling can loosen soil, but be aware of some drawbacks. First, if you need to loosen deeply, the tiller may not penetrate deep enough. Second, repeated tilling can pulverize the soil into near dust. Soil crumbs will collapse on themselves and air won’t be able to reach the plant roots—and air is essential. Third, you can glaze a clay soil with the fast-turning tines, causing drainage and root penetration problems. Yet another note of caution: If you till existing plants into the bed, they will likely come back, and you will later have to control them with herbicides, pulling or smothering. In this case, you may not be able to plant until later in the year.
Should you make a raised bed? A drainage test is the answer. A drainage test tells you how well your soil drains. Perennial plants need 18 inches of good drainage to thrive. Annuals and vegetables may not need such a deep bed. To do a drainage test: Dig an 18-inch deep hole and fill it with water.
7. Should you make a raised bed? A drainage test is the answer. A drainage test tells you how well your soil drains. Perennial plants need 18 inches of good drainage to thrive. Annuals and vegetables may not need such a deep bed. To do a drainage test: Dig an 18-inch deep hole and fill it with water.
Allow the hole to drain completely, then refill it with water. Time how long the hole takes to drain the second time. If it’s less than 24 hours, you have good drainage. If it’s not drained in 24 hours, measure how deep the water is in the hole and you can raise the bed by that many inches to get the required 18 inches of drainage. Alternatively, you could install drain tiles to help correct the drainage.
8. Allow the hole to drain completely, then refill it with water. Time how long the hole takes to drain the second time. If it’s less than 24 hours, you have good drainage. If it’s not drained in 24 hours, measure how deep the water is in the hole and you can raise the bed by that many inches to get the required 18 inches of drainage. Alternatively, you could install drain tiles to help correct the drainage.

Article and photos by Steven Nikkila, www.gardenatoz.com.

Elsewhere: Managing your summer compost

Are wood ashes and sawdust good for compost and the garden?

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Compost is a great way to feed plants with organic waste from the kitchen and garden.

Can I apply wood ashes from my fireplace to my garden beds? If not, is it OK to add to the compost pile? What about sawdust from the workshop?

Applying wood ashes that are free from contamination should be OK if it is done when the garden is not planted and filled with growing plants. Spread a uniform, thin layer of ashes (a covering about the thickness of a sheet of paper) over the garden. This can be done in conjunction with the incorporation of other organic material such as manure or compost. In either case, the ground should then be tilled thoroughly to an 8- to 12-inch depth. It is also OK to add these uncontaminated ashes to your compost pile in moderation.

Sawdust is a good component for a compost pile. Mix sawdust with dense materials such as grass clippings, wet leaves, vegetable remains, etc. This will allow air into the mix. More air speeds up the composting process and cuts down on potential odors. Do not use sawdust created from cutting treated lumber.

Also from Michigan Gardener: Putting flowers in compost pile

Elsewhere: Wood Ash in the Garden

Detroit compost company wins award

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The Detroit News:

Pashon Murray is in a dirty business — and it’s paying off.

Murray, co-founder of Detroit Dirt, which converts manure and food scraps into compost, won $10,000 as the winner in the food category of Martha Stewart’s 2014 American Made contest.

Detroit Dirt beat out more than 220 other food finalists to win the contest’s food category in agriculture and sustainability. The contest rewards entrepreneurs and artisans across the country for innovativeness, creativity and workmanship in four main categories — food, design, craft and design — and several subcategories.

Read the rest of the story here…

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