Richard Nurac wrote: I use the wood chips as a weed barrier but first place cardboard or newspapers down to block the sunlight and, incidentally, to prevent the woodchips mixing with the soil and draining nitrogen.
Casey Halone wrote:I had mentioned the concept of mulching with wood chips to a group of folks planing on this years community garden, and the point was brought up that wood chips would be a potental egg laying area and place for problem bugs to hide and plastic sheet mulch was a better alternative.
I do not like the idea of plastics in my garden anywhere aside from hoses.
Could you help me come up with the pros and cons of each as well as any experience you might have with either method?
Mary Gallos wrote:Too many worm
Does anyone know how I could catch the compost worms (for release in the back "yard" while leaving the earthworms there? And should I?
Skip Smith wrote:Hi Redhawk.
My garden is recently cleared oak forest with stumps intact. There is sc orange clay soil that drains well. Last year the potatos grew to half an inch instead of full sized. It has earthworms and snails ladybugs stink bugs and big black ants. It's all on a 1:6 n facing slope.
I need to grow food fast. I broke up the mat of roots and decayed leaves on the surface and mixed it with the orange clay soil beneath and added lime and some wood ash. It needs more nitrogen. I bought some ca nitrate. Can I put a very small amount in to get things jumpstarted without hurting the worms and good bacteria too much? Nothing wants to grow but I have grown about 5 huge daikon after scattering hundred of seeds. My radishes and turnips only grew to one inch but my dads are three in high. Similar weather. Temperature max 65 F and min 35.
Also I want to make use of all the leaves and urine but don't want to smell it at all. How can I make a completely inoffensive smellin leaf compost pile that has lots of microbes? I got molasses hoRse salt lick and can chop the leaves with a weedwaker. Thanks
ian labo wrote:Hello Dr Redhawk. Do you think your super soil can equal the amount of harvest in a chemically fertilize farm. And how about the amount of work invested. I have concerns over the prohibitive price of chemical fertelizer in the near future due to many things but primarily due to the cost of petrol.
Thanks
Ian