DON’T MAROON PLANTS IN IMAPPROPRIATE SOIL

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I HAVE harped on this subject in previous articles, but
because of its importance to the landscape, here it comes

again.

Many times, a concerned new
home owner will cry out for the
services of a plant doctor when

If you happen to be one of those
unfortunate people who woke up
to smell the roses only to find them
in the process of dying for no good
reason, look out below. In all like-

i the poor state of affairs in

most gordehs can be attributed to
poor topsoil.

Trying tq grow plants in ‘‘soil’’
‘too poor to grow weeds in is a little
like being marconed on a barren
island: nothing to live on but rock,
air, water and a little seaweed. At
best you would have a rather bleak
existence and, most likely, a very
short one. :

If you ‘maroon’ your plants on
a poor stretch of gravel, a pocket
of clay or some poorly produced
substitute for topsoil, you should
_ Rot expect much.

If they had legs, they would up
and leave you; but instead they
find themselves hopelessly aban-
doned, totally at your mercy —
until they die.

Dirt is the term given to the
choice bits of gossip we discuss
over backyard fences.

Laniecape Ties aad pretaure treated lumber is =i
avaliable for your isrxiscaping project, 110m tha smaitast

selection of product aird sizes: 6.8, 446 and 224, 2x6 and

Jarger, Most of the sicck we cary is available in both
green and brown finishes. Custo.n pressure treating is
ho arveltable for those urassual situations.

SERVICE:

We should reserve the word
“soil'* for discussions of the mate-
rial in which we expect to grow
plants. The word “‘topsoil’* has
lost all meaning in the last few
years; thanks to disreputable sup-
pliers palming off screened snb-
soil, half composed sawdust, or
combinations of the two, as “‘top-
soil.””

The term originally referred to
the top 12 inches of the earth’s
crust which supports most of the
planet’s growth.

It is ludicrous to assume that the
enormous amount of ‘‘topsoil’’
that you see rumbling along the
Upper Levels Highway could be
the rea] thing.

CONCRETE
: PLANTERS

© 100% BC hore grown
design

Of course it is synthetic. By this
I mean a good (or bad) blend of
materials designed to duplicate the
characteristics of real soil which
enable plants to grow.

In order to know what to look
for when ordering topsoil for the
garden, you must understand the
nature of the materials that are
present in good soils.

Real topsoil is a blend of in-
organic or mineral particles and
organic material of varying sizes —

over the

garden gate

Geoff Tabiasson

each of which bring different pro-
perties to the soil.

Clay soils are composed of
super-fine mineral particles; they
generaliv drain very poorly and
allow an inadequate supply of ox-
ygen to the root zone. If your soil
has an abundance of clay, it is said
to be heavy.

INSTALLATION:

We work with the finest installers and

(he busmess. i you shoul? require

designers
phnlttseidilal

uote on an existing project ta a complete
landscape design, we woukt be happy to bia as
many qualitied companies as you may recuare.

Across from Venice- Bakery} :

on Main Street
(bright yellow awning

Sandy soils are made up of large
particles that allow the moisture to
drain away too quickly and, as a
result, the extra watering necessary
will quickly leach out the nutrients
needed in the soil. Sandy soils are
said to be light.

All soils require the addition of
organic materials, the decayed re-
mains of plants and animals.

These not only provide a supply
of nutrients to the soil, they also
improve its texture. Organic mate-
rials can make light soils moisture
and nutrient retentive and break
up clay soils, allowing them better
drainage and air penetration.

The following is a list of materi-
als that are sometimes used as a
source of organic material in top-
soils.

1 have arranged the list starting
with those I consider to be best to
those I believe to be poor and even
dangerous:

Compost, composted mushroom
manure, composted steer manure,
fresh manures, peat moss, com-
posted sawdust, bark mutch, and
fresh sawdust.

There is a danger associated with
the last three. Cellulose does not
break down very efficiently,.and as

rt on topsoil

the micro-organisms present in the
soil try to break it down or com-
post it, they will deplete the sur-
rounding soil of nitrogen.

if you must use them in any
quantity be sure to add regular
applications of a high nitrogen fer-
tilizer until these materials are well
rotted.

Beware of inexpensive ‘opsoils.

If it’s cheap it probably won’t
have quality materials in it. Ask
the supplier to give you a percent-
age breakdown of its contents.

_An example analysis of a good
quality topsoil would de: 50 per
cent to 60 per cent peat, 20 per
cent sand, 20 per cent loam soil
(clay, sand mix), less than five per
cent composted hemlock sawdust,
and less than one per ceni flyash.

Atso beware of claims that
guarantee a soil to be weed-free.

Any topsoil incapable of grow-
ing weeds is surely incapable of
supporting good growth in the
garden.

A few weeds are inevitable. At
least they are a sign that your soil,
ou which so much depends, is fer-
tile.

GOLDEN TOUCH
INTERIOLS

“athe « ii locd & Ma

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