A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Wisconsin, zone 4b
Posts: 360
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First some background info:
So I share a small plot with my neighbor. Due to certain circumstances they will not be taking any of the plot this year, I was already going to expand it to roughly double the size so I could have more space. That is still the plan. But...now. Ooooooo. So much more to plan now! So they were pretty much standard till twice (or sometimes even three times! *wince*) a year on their portion. I'm all about the raised beds and compost. Don't till because earthworms and mycorrhiza. I also do containers with peat moss and compost. Due to the same circumstances as above the garden plot has lain in a state of mess and has not been weeded since about July last year. I started ripping up old stalks/plants and stakes from tomatoes tonight. It's a mess. It doesn't help that we are pretty much all sand in the yard. Honestly their soil is like dust. It's completely devoid of any organic matter. ![]() ![]() So basically I'm starting from scratch on 80% of this garden. I have a plan and I can do about twelve 4' by 8' (maybe 4' by 6-7') raised beds in the whole thing (including the expansion). I need advice. I have newspaper for smothering weeds, I have old coffee grounds and eggshells I've been saving all winter for the worms, I have old hay and straw for mulching. Those I know what to do with. ![]() And NOW...thanks to some awesome friends who heard me asking about fertilizer of the manure variety...I have rabbit poop, horse poop, and cow poop in various states of decay...where should I use this in my garden? Add to compost pile to let it break down more? Layer under the newspaper to rot until I plant in April/May? What do I do with this wonderful stuff!?!?!? ![]() Would love some suggestions for cover crops for this fall too. ![]() |
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