5 Tips to Add Every Element & Amendment Container Soil Needs (Do This Now & Just Plant Come Spring!)

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks so much for your support! Cheers & Thanks, Gary! Visit My Seed and Garden Shop The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD Popular Items from My Seed and Garden Shop... The Rusted Garden T-Shirts: bit.ly/4cSTuVA Seed Starting, Growing, and Pest Management Neem Oil: bit.ly/43IJl9C Peppermint Oil: bit.ly/43IJl9C Rosemary Oil: bit.ly/43IJl9C 100 Gallon Fabric Pots (approximately 100 Gallons): bit.ly/3PMoZ9S #20 Gallon Fabric Pots (21.32 Gallons): bit.ly/43Hz9OA #10 Gallon Fabric Pots (10.44 Gallons): bit.ly/3J5lEyK #5 Gallon Fabric Pots (4.3 Gallons): bit.ly/3J5lEyK 1 Quart Seed Starting Fabric Pots: bit.ly/43HQE1c Seed Starting Standard Plastic Flats: bit.ly/4cF326m Seed Starting Cells/Containers:bit.ly/3PMaCT1 2 1/2" Square Seed Starting Containers: bit.ly/43GOQWv 3" x 4" Round Seed Starting Containers: bit.ly/3TYckD7 Seed Starting Flats with Drainage Holes: Coming Soon 'No Potting Up' Large 6 Cells for Seed Starting: bit.ly/3xiLBIK Seed Collections and Packs The Rusted Garden 'Scan and Grow' Collection Scan the QR Code for Planting Instructions: bit.ly/43HYBDQ 10 Cool Weather Garden Crops for Spring & Fall: bit.ly/3xw3Ji5 10 Leafy 'Greens' Varieties for an Easy Greens Garden: bit.ly/4akuHIl The Rusted Garden Heirloom Tomato Seed Selections: bit.ly/49towQK The Rusted Garden Pepper Seed Selections: bit.ly/3U1G1TM My Amazon Garden Store Front As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Just use my... The Rusted Garden Amazon Influencer's Storefront link at www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden anytime you shop. I put the products I use and discuss, in videos, there and have gardening products set up by categories. Such as Grow Lights, Fertilizers, Pest Control, and More. My 2nd KZbin Channel Geared Towards Brand New Gardeners My First Vegetable Garden: bit.ly/3POOjMq My Podcasts The Rusted Garden Homestead... All About Growing, Cooking and Sharing Food: bit.ly/443SSGL My Blogs The Rusted Garden Journal: bit.ly/3vznpBl Join this channel to get access to Perk Memberships which focus on providing small live garden mentoring Q & A sessions, classes, and member influenced videos: kzbin.info/door/ptL6_qMImyW_yZwiMjQdpgjo My Books: The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard Available Now amzn.to/40rfkIb Growing An Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Into a Food Garden Available November 2023 amzn.to/41tfno2 Products I Use and Recommend and I have an affiliation with them: GreenStalk Vertical Gardening Towers Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on GreenStalk 'Vertical Tier Systems'. Use this link and enter my code for the discount greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=therustedgarden AgroThrive Organic Bio-Fertilizers Use my affiliate link and my code TRG10 to save 10% on your first order: agrothrive.com/?ref=M5o6fjdAruq_S Vegega Metal Raised Beds Check out all the metal bed design & colors (dozens) at Vegega. Here is my affiliate link use my code TRG to save 10%: www.vegega.com/?ref=le64f3gm30 There is often free shipping and my code does NOT stack when current sales are active and equal to or above 10% off. Follow The Rusted Garden on Instagram: bit.ly/4aiMQ9l Follow The Rusted Garden on Meta/Facebook: bit.ly/49tP2cF Follow The Rusted Garden on Threads: bit.ly/49tPesp Follow The Rusted Garden on TikTok: bit.ly/4cFGQZR Join me in my Private Meta/FB Group: The Rusted Garden Homestead: bit.ly/3xlvSbH Contact Me at [e-mail] for questions or if you are interested in collaborations, affiliations or advertising. #gardening #gardeningtips #garden #gardentips @THERUSTEDGARDEN

[@QuestionTheAnswers]

Great video.. I like to take one of those childs plastic swimming pools, they usually come in pink or blue color, and I dump the container soil in it. When I'm breaking off chunks of that compressed big block of peat, I completely break it all up and then spray it lightly with a layer of water. Then I break all that up.. this way, when I am completing adding a the new amendments like compost and granular,etc.. I have a nice moist end product. It does the clump in the hand but still crumbles nicely test.. I also add a bit of Perilite and vermiculite to help it out. I had to stop using mushroom compost bags from Lowe's this year, because they are not finished. They reeked of sulfur and nearly ruined my entire tomato container harvest in the greenhouse. I only use Living Earth now if I have to use store bought. Neptune's Harvest comes in clutch from now on too! Thanks for the great videos!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

That is a great way to do it. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

And good example of compost not being finished.

[@ausfoodgarden]

I really appreciate the way you don't tie yourself to a single philosophy but just give no-BS advice that works. Some great information in this video as usual. I don't think I've ever thrown away soil (Except for some that was contaminated with amino pyralid) Anything I deem not salvageable by amendments as you show here, gets added to the compost pile and eventually back to the garden. Cheers!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks so much for watching. Yeah some sources say throw it away, which is not right and so expensive. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@lilmak889]

Such a great video! I think every hobby can be pricey, but if one keeps completely dumping the soil, might as well shop at whole foods 😂😂😂

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Some people do only because someone gave them bad advice. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@MariThomas01]

We emptied and sifted ours at the begining of the season. They were full of grubs.. so many grubs and cocoons. We fed them to the birds.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

That must be a lot of work.

[@MariThomas01]

@THERUSTEDGARDEN it wasnt too bad. But i was surprised at how many there were one 10 gallon bag had arouns 13 grubs

[@martinaparrrish5397]

Thanks Gary.Will do this in the spring.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Yep. Spring or fall. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@robertoe9498]

I saw a video of people doing a 10% total volume organic matter replacement per year to keep potting mix fresh. So if it is a 10 gallon container you add 1 gallon of compost primarily every spring, or as you said if you have no compost you add peat moss, coco coir. When you use calcium there are directions in the calcium product about how to use it. I use calcium carbonate ultra fine and highly reactive in pots for tomatoes. You only need 2 grams per 10 gallons of water up to 10 times a year. And as you said, replenishing peat moss or manure yearly will keep the pH locked.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks for the info. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@Hutzjohn]

I was listening to "Garden Fundamentals" and he explained "they" analyzed (leaves from different plant) and the ratios of N-P-K were 3-1-2 and that is where they came up with plants need the nitrogen, phosphorus, & potassium in a 3-1-2 ratio however in 1 chart I saw the calcium content in leaves was as high or a bit higher than the nitrogen content and that has me WONDERING if plants need more calcium than most think. I heard it claimed calcium is needed for strong cell walls in the plants. Have you heard of any studies where too much calcium causes any problems? I also researched how much lime is needed for "X" amount of Peat Moss to balance the "PH" because peat is acidic ---- 2 Tbsp per cubic foot of soil is my understanding ---- so far. Last year I used the "evergreen" fertilizer from walmart it has a 4-1-2 ratio (16-4-8) ---- it seemed to work fairly well. My watermelons and cantaloupes did REAL well I sprinkled about 2 tablespoons on top about every 2 - 3 weeks + the watersoluble feedings every 7 - 10 days. these were in 25 - 20 gallon grow bags.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

I take them as guidelines as compost is well below a 1-1-1 NPK. And plants can live in that alone. The idea is that the elements are present and available for the roots to find. In containers it varies much more and more is needed because the roots cant go down into the earth. Your ratios are pretty low and feedings are steady. That works.

[@meshab6049]

Great job! I plan to clean up on Mon/Tues, can we leave the refreshed containers uncovered all winter?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Either way is fine. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@kimcirrone292]

Could you do a video on if there are grubs in a raised bed, I’ve had grubs in my raised bed and in our lawn for a couple years now. We don’t treat our lawn and I really don’t want to use grub stuff. I have tried nematodes but they are very expensive for a large area. I didn’t know if you had any ideas or tips. Thank you so much, I have loved your videos for years!!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

If the grubs arent killing your plants, ignore them. If they are problematic killing the adults helps. But grubs in general arent bad Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@dustyflats3832]

I used Milky Spore and it took care of Japanese Beetle grubs.

[@VickiTarsagian]

Hi Gary, what is the benefit of doing this in the fall vs. early Spring? Thank you! I’ve learned so much from you. This year I successfully started many seeds indoors putting them out during the day. It worked out great!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

The organic granular breaks down. You dont have to dig in spring or deal with cold soil. Any materials that are problems like wood, decay more. But mostly I like having them ready to go. You can really pick either time. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@VickiTarsagian]

@ Thank you!

[@badhalf]

Once the soil is prepared, wouldn't you want to cover it with leave mulch? I plan on working on my raised bed tomorrow and using the mower to mulch and bag my maple leaves to then cover my beds.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Covering is always good. Maple leaves decay nicely. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@Maggie-eq4cd]

Thank you this info is very helpful. All my veg growing is in large containers. So I am going to add nutrients and amendments. Also going to use a cover crop. Maggie UK

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks for watching and good luck. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@Elijah12459]

Should I add perlite, sand or other similar products to help, loosen and aerate soil?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

You dont have to. Perlite helps but the compost and peat go a long way. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@kelleclark]

Will the winter snows/rains flush out the nutrients over the winter? Can you just do it in the spring?

[@ausfoodgarden]

Well if you are talking about containers, I normally amend the old mix just before I plant something new in there. Gary is suggesting adding the nutrients to help break down anything not already composted such as wood fibers etc. I guess if you do that you might add water soluble again in Spring.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

You can wait. But you really need lots of water to flush stuff away. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@krystynaglowiak9538]

It’s a lot easier to mix the soil in the wheelbarrow and then filled the containers

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

That works. Not everyone has one. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@t0mt0mt0m]

Pine bark fines and rice hulls are what nurseries use for aeration in the east coast.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@zenaidafilomeno-fc4gm]

Thank you for your common sense approach to gardening. Pls provide more info on thrive. I follow dilution formula but not sure how much volume to give per 5 gallon container. My Asian vegetables like bitter melon and gourd’s leaves turn yellow. Thank you

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

The volume is tricky as no one really nows. I general put in enough so it saturates down 2/3 of the way but does come out the bottom. Nothing specific. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@MikeDawson1]

question: if you do this in November, isn't all the rain between now and March going to just dissolve and wash all the nutrients out of it by the time you need to use the containers again?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

No. Some perhaps but not enough to really matter. Elements cling to soil particles. Excess will run off. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@sigmundblank7403]

I was under the impression that the synthetics wash out over several months with the rain, especially nitrogen. I plan on covering my containers over winter to prevent that.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Not true. Excess can. And you need tons of rain for it to happen.

[@kelleclark]

@@THERUSTEDGARDEN Define "tons of rain"...we just received 11.5" in 48 hours here in the Ozarks! I'll wait to amend in spring :)

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Well the particles in the soil hold onto elements and such but not everything. Using the nitrogen now helps to decay organic matter in the soil. If the soil is fine, waiting is best.

[@jamistokes5333]

I need to refresh my raised beds and containers. I have some bags of scotts garden topsoil (i think) that is about 3-4 years old. Is it OK to use this in a mix with peat/or coco coir to save some money? I purchased too much when I set up my beds years ago and just hung onto it. Thanks!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

That will be find to use. Once it is all mixed up all the good microbes come in and the soil works it out. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com Join this channel ($3.99 a month) to get access to Live Chat Garden Mentoring Q&A Perks: kzbin.info/door/ptL6_qMImyW_yZwiMjQdpgjoin

[@jamistokes5333]

@THERUSTEDGARDEN thank you so much!! Love your channel. I've watched it for a few years since I started gardening and it has been so helpful! Just wanted to let you know that too.

[@erikmuser7915]

Thank U Gary. I've been wondering if I should replant tomatoes in the same mix. In ground they always say to rotate crops.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

if youre amending soil, rotation is that big of a deal in a small garden btw. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@erikmuser7915]

Nutrients aren't my concern. It's soil borne diseases. I'm in central Florida and have a tough time with late blight. Trying to grow though the fall/winter for the 1st time. Going well so far, tomatoes are crankin'.​@@THERUSTEDGARDEN

[@connieriddle5665]

I have a neighborhood cat issue. Normally I tarp all my containers after prepping. Is it ok to cover them or should they be rained on?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Well you can cover but the should stay moist. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@DaveK385]

I used the Alaska Fish Emulsion on my garden and the raccoons or possums (I think raccoons) came that night and dug everything up and left a terrible mess. After the second time that I tried it with the same result, I ended up throwing away half a jug.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Agrothive works well and that animals leave it alone. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@sagepremoe1565]

Am looking forward to your leaf mold video. I have leaves sitting for 3 years and they still haven't broke down. Also I have chickens but it seems like their manure, combined with straw or saw dust isn't breaking down either. ?Is the sawdust acting like wood chips and sucking nutrients out of my plants? It seems such a waste not to be able to use the chicken manure. ?Does one need to separate the manure from everything else to be able to use it? That would be incredibly labor intensive.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Make sure the leaves are moist. Sawdust would then it decays and give the nutrients back. Moisture is the key often. It all be combined in a pile, typically. Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@soniamarshall9293]

I would cover with netting

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks Please visit my new blog www.therustedgardenblog.com The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: www.therustedgarden.com Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop Sign Up Here: bit.ly/4aarkDD

[@MariThomas01]

Is now a good time to buy black kow, amend the beds and let it finish breaking down?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Black Kow has been hit or miss for me but yes, now would be a good time to amend and let it breakdown. That should work.

[@MariThomas01]

@THERUSTEDGARDEN Same here, im hesitant but leafgro gets really sandy so i need something with substance that can breakdown in time for planting in spring. Fingers crossed.