The back yard soil hasn’t been touched in over 20 year
- Thread starter Yamweedy
- Start date
spliffendz
Well-Known Member
You can get the soil tested, the soil mole people will be along shortly to tell you how
HydroKid239
Well-Known Member
I would judge by the plant life coming out of it.
Yamweedy
Active Member
I’m bout to get a ph tester for the soil. That’s a start
Hobbitgoblin
Well-Known Member
Fk the nutes three soil biological side must be livid unless you've been Somehow Here Again with chlorinated tap water then dang 20 yeard for nothing
Hobbitgoblin
Well-Known Member
Why are weeds not a indicator of good soil most weeds are edible and have medicinal properties. And last but absolutely not least they work like cover crops and The Roots are absolutely crucial to livinng soil no roots of any kind no mycoriz or beneficial bacteria or fungi excetera??
farmingfisherman
Well-Known Member
Hope the neighbor in the two story is okay with growing weed. Good luck!
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
agreed. The more life in the soil, the better. Also, in nature, weeds serve a purpose. Dandelions for example, indicate compacted, and acidic soil from calcium loss. They help replace the calcium and loosen the soil and eventually go away.
farmingfisherman
Well-Known Member
farmingfisherman
Well-Known Member
So that is why I have so many dandelions in my yard?
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Most likely. Aerate your soil. Compacted soil gets acidic. Dandelions loosen it and send long taproot deep into the soil bringing up calcium.
When their job is done, they go away.
farmingfisherman
Well-Known Member
I'm sheet mulching it. So far we have done over a 1000 sq feet. Nothing more satisfying than seeing what happens to soil when its smothered under cardboard and crap ton of wood chips. As far as the dandies go I kind them, open during the day feeding the bees and closed up at night. The ones we have are the native variety (tall spindly). After nearly 8 months when planting in our mulched areas we still can find where they were, sometimes almost still alive hoping for something to expose them to sunlight again. The worm life is amazing along with plenty of other critters.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Good to hear. The worms help the soil as well. Microbes and enzymes. I bet they love the cardboard.
Star Dog
Well-Known Member
Stick a spade into it and grab a handful, it shouldn't be wet sticky or sandy, I'd be look for something dark like leaf mould or compost type structure.
I'd be concerned about the host of beasties/eggs and larvae in anything from outside.
Fwiw my dad bags leafs in autumn and stores them for 2/3 seasons before mixing it into the garden, he swears by it for his veggies.
I'd be concerned about the host of beasties/eggs and larvae in anything from outside.
Fwiw my dad bags leafs in autumn and stores them for 2/3 seasons before mixing it into the garden, he swears by it for his veggies.
quiescent
Well-Known Member
The dandelions and a tight soil are more an indicator of too much magnesium in relation to the calcium, not an absence of it.
Gypsum is the solution. Dolomite lime would make it worse. Ag lime would help with balancing the magnesium and calcium but not with the compaction.
Gypsum is the solution. Dolomite lime would make it worse. Ag lime would help with balancing the magnesium and calcium but not with the compaction.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
What he said! Lol