Thread: Soil ?
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Old February 24, 2016   #29
Worth1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Farmette View Post
So, are you saying that if I add a layer of compost to an established raised bed or garden plot, I should not mix it in at all with a broadfork or pitchfork...that I should just leave it in the top and plant directly into it. I know not to rototill and don't do that, but gently turning over or loosening soil is different than rototilling, isn't it? If one should not disturb the soil, then should many of us who mix a layer of dry leaves into the soil in Fall not do that either?
I dont practice what I preach I will be honest about that.

This is what I do I pre-mix what I want to add and put it on top.
Just the other day I chopped a pile of leaves and so on and just raked it over the top of the soil in the big garden.
The use of any deep soil disturbing device in my opinion is not necessary.
Mixing in just an inch or two is okay but deeply no.
But this also depends on what you have for soil too.
If it is good one thing if it is bad then that is another.
In my opinion building soil and amending it is two different things.

Mixing in those dry leave will deplete the soil of nitrogen it is better to let them lay on top let the worms eat them as they decay and then the worms will in turn put the nitrogen back in the soil as they move around.
This is how nature intended it and how it works all we have to go is help it along.


Worth
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