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.

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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:

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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.

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