Adding Organic Matter
Stan – posted 14 May 2011 21:47
In my front yard I have poor soil that was originally subsurface silty sand with some gray clay fill. It never grew good grass. For my zoysia conversion I intend to add organic matter to hold moisture and keep soil from compacting.
I finally found the best deal at Lowes. I purchased several 1 CU Ft. bags of Timberline Organic Manure Compost for only $1.57 a bag! It is really rich and dark with some finely shredded pine wood fibers plus compost. I also discovered an $8 – 20 lb bag of Black Hen composted chicken manure FERTILIZER. It is pelletized so can be broadcast with a spreader!
I feel like this will really rebuild my soil the organic way and allow all the beneficial microbes and earthworms to thrive. Yes. good soil is the key and not the heaping of abstracted chemical fertilizers which leach out and leave behind salts while killing a lot of the soil life that makes for healthier grass.
mrmumbels – posted 15 May 2011 07:03
Mixing in Alfalfa pellets and peat moss are good too and probably cheaper than actual soil from lowes. careful for the acidity of peat though.
Stan – posted 15 May 2011 10:56
Actually, I compared the cost and 3 CU FT of Peat is $9.99. Compare that to this manure compost product and it is under $5 for 3 CU FT. The compost has the added benefit of nutrients and balanced pH. One thing is for sure that the Black Hen beats Scotts with is chemical based and at least $20 as opposed to $8. Now I wish they had Alfalfa too …
mrmumbels – posted 16 May 2011 01:36
quote:Originally posted by Stan:Actually, I compared the cost and 3 CU FT of Peat is $9.99. Compare that to this manure compost product and it is under $5 for 3 CU FT. The compost has the added benefit of nutrients and balanced pH. One thing is for sure that the Black Hen beats Scotts with is chemical based and at least $20 as opposed to $8. Now I wish they had Alfalfa too …
Compost is useless unless you have organic matter for the microbes to eat.
Stan – posted 16 May 2011 11:18
Compost is decomposed organic matter! It is decomposed to a fine crumbly soil but sume vegetative fibers are sill intact to hold water, nutrients and microbes. In the soil it will continue to break down releasing nutrients as the microbes and earthworms degrade it.
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