From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Chesterfield, MO

Has anyone ever used a product called "Open All" to improve drainage and assist in the breakup of hardpan and clay? If so, how did it work for you? It is manufactured by OxyWave and can be looked up at http://www.openallsoil.com/open_all.html Thanks!

Steve G.

8/23/2003 2:12:26 AM

Montoursville, PA

Compare this product with the subject of your question. KLAYSOFT, by Global Stone James River, Buchanan, Va. 24066.
I have used it for years with good result. The contents are certainly healthy patch any way you consider it. It is a balanced product and will not adversely effect your PH. It is Calcium Sulfate 78%, Calcium (CAL) 20% and Sulfur (S) 15%. It is found in our local lawn and garden centers.

The application is somewhat forgiving to minor error while calling for just twenty pounds fall and spring per a 1000 Sq. Ft. Patch.

It breaks up hardpan and clay. It helps balance the salts from other soil treatments no matter what the source, of those salts. It makes available ample calcium long term.

This is, in my opinion, a great rebuilding, of healthy soil, product. Any similar would do likewise.

One should always consider soil test reports first. This product appears to me to be a win win situation for pumpkin patches.

8/23/2003 9:45:48 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Also known as Gypsum.

I suppose if I bagged a shovel full of dirt off the street & wrote a few hundred words about it & posted them on the internet it would look a bit like this.

8/23/2003 9:31:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Thank you so much for your kind comments. The dirt not only comes from the street sometimes. What does come from the street is full of poison too. Very interesting. duh

8/24/2003 10:05:58 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I'm sorry Dwaine. I wasn't trying to be sharp. Though it read that way!

It just bugs me to see a company trying to package age old products & marketing them to folks at a premium just because they hired a good marketing person. Then they make up some fancy web pages or color glossy hand outs. The next thing you know they're picking some guys pocket to the tune of $20.00 a bag for something the ag co-op sells all day for less than $10.00

Sure the bag's probably a lot prettier. But the material most likely comes straight out of the same plant.

Burns me up.

Steve

8/24/2003 12:50:46 PM

White Plains, NY

Another burn,

I bought a few yards of "Top Soil". It had a smell of oil and consisted of some kind of dirt (very little), sand and apparent road sweepings, included glass, wood chips, gum wrappers, etc. A Board of Health test for oil did not test high enough for contamination.

Buyer beware as there are no standards for top soil in most areas.

8/25/2003 1:21:34 PM

Itzetown City

You better had to buy sifted topsoil. That what you describtet is never sifted topsoil. Last year I also make a mistake with buying soil as I took the cheapest supply. What did I learn? It is recommendable to buy soil by a trustfull seller and say him clearly what will want.

8/25/2003 1:58:48 PM

Montoursville, PA

I would not have paid for that load of crap. They could have come back and re-loaded one shovel full at a time.

8/25/2003 7:56:03 PM

White Plains, NY

Docgipe,

It's a long story. I'm now trying to get Consumer Affairs to set standards.

8/25/2003 8:51:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Hey Jim,

I know most of the "topsoil" dealers in Westchester. Sad thing is, there is no topsoil there to sell. New ground that's never been "ripped" is hard to find there now. Look up your road to Park Lane. There's a darn good reason no one ever built up there before now.

Most of the "topsoil" that is for sale is really just municipal leaf & grass compost. To this is added street sweepings, pond dredgings, & any other "dirt" that can be had cheap. Usually subsoil that is being removed to make way for a basement. And that I believe is where your contaminants came from. Probably a commercial location being illegally cleaned like a gas station or a home that at one time had a leaking oil tank. It even smells like #2 Home Heating oil.

I agree with you that all offerings should be certified as to source & percent ingredient. It should be a matter of public record. And the stuff you got should not be legal to label "topsoil". It should rather have been labeled "Compost 80%/Pond dredgings 15%/ Street sweepings 5%" Complete with the towns name & adress of compost source & sweepings source. The pond dredgings source should already be on file with the State since you really can't dredge without first pulling permits. Likewise large scale fill cuts. So this becomes nothing more than a matter of getting existing agencies to share data that already exists (LOL in NY). Then force the retailer to gather, organize, & otherwise maintain records.

Steve

PS I have a friend who can transport real topsoil from Stamford (Mercedes Trucking on Camp Ave) & others who are processing human tankage with leaves & spent mushroom compost that is supposed to be pre-certified to levels far exceeding any legal requirements. But they drop ship 18 yards as a minimum. Cheap though. $18/yard in Westchester.

8/25/2003 9:12:52 PM

White Plains, NY

Thanks Steve, we'll talk. 20 yards for a starter.

8/26/2003 1:11:34 PM

Oz

i thought human waste is bad for food??

8/26/2003 2:09:42 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

google search on Tagro..if properly treated

8/26/2003 3:10:48 PM