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Marion,IN

I just tilled in some ground up leaves in the garden.Is triple 18 something that will be advantageous to the garden or will hurt my dirt? Any advice appreciated.

Mark

10/18/2010 2:45:48 PM

Muddy Waters

have you tested your soil?

10/20/2010 10:27:56 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

That triple-18 stuff sure does sound like a synthetic compound. Most synthetics will 'hurt your dirt', maybe not so much in that first year, but over time and eventually. One might guess that you're not planting anything there for another 5 to 6 months...so why put that '18' down now ? It could likely be all leached-out by then.

Focus on building the organic matter content with composts, chipped leaves, straws and aged manures, etc. Add as well those good types of 'rock powders' that add slow-release mineral and elemental benefit. Consider by all means the addition of a granular humate, kelp meal, dried molasses. As spring comes around add some alfalfa meal and spray your designated planting areas with a hydrolyzed fish or fish-and-seaweed solution.

And, you know, if you never did use any of that 18-18-18 stuff your soil and your plants would probably thank you, and so would all the wonderful microbes and worms thank you....for not spoiling their world with synthetic chemical compounds. No, really, I mean it.

10/21/2010 12:03:07 AM

Fredericksburg Texas 78624

Amen Tomato Man, so few people understand WHAT is really in those fertilizers kills all the beneficial microbes, and then it devestates the ecosystem, moving through to the worms, birds,predatory animals,us and now we have come full circle trying to reintroduce what we have destroyed and educate about revitalizing soils that we have destroyed using manure tea etc. keep educating brother!

2/19/2011 7:48:39 PM