THE DIRT ABOUT SOIL

I’m far from an expert on soil, but here are the few things I know.

1. If you mix sand with your clay soil it makes cement.
2. To improve your soil, add lots of manure, or organic matter. It is good to add manure, leaves, lawn clippings (without weeds) in the fall. It will break down during the Winter and you will have very mellow ground the next Spring.
3. Sawdust takes NITROGEN from the soil, so if you must use it, apply manure with it. Sawdust takes a long time to decay too. I don’t recommend it.
4. Adding SOIL PEP to soil is a very good thing. It is reasonably priced and is good in your garden or on your flower beds.
Wait until the ground is dry and ready to work, then spread it on the top and work it in. Two to four inches on top is a good start. I try to spread a couple of inches over my flowers in the fall and during the winter it sinks in and breaks down. It is a good mulch for the flowers and lightens up the soil. But it doesn't add much in the way of nutrients to your soil.
5. Don’t work the soil when it is too wet, you will end up with hard clody ground.
6. Don’t walk on the soil when it is too wet, it will pack down, causing clods when it is worked. Plants need air pockets in with the dirt to grow a good root system. That is why you want light soil. If your ground is compacted, the roots have a hard time working their way through it.
7. To test the soil for moisture, squeeze a handful, if it stays in a ball, it is too wet to work, it if separates it is dry enough to work.

REMINDER !!!
1. Buy your seeds.
2. Apply Caserone in raspberries and in areas where you don’t want weeds to grow.
3. Spray dormant oil or Neem oil soon.