Gardening in too much compost?!

Am I gardening in too much compost? It's one of the many question that has been bouncing around in the back of my head. On one hand, I've gotten great results in past seasons with this approach. However, it's a significantly different approach to traditional agricultural practices that aim for a loam soil with 5-10% organic matter.
So, how could I figure out whether I am gardening in too much compost and what alternatives there are? You guessed it, a good ol' fashion garden experiment! Today's video is the beginning of a series of videos we'll be doing all focused on exploring different soils as growing mediums, their pros and cons, and which option are best for each of us based on our growing environment, desired crops, and resources available!
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[@brianramsey3824]

I like Ashley she takes a no nonsense noncrowd following approach to things...its sciiieeence

[@MindandSoil]

Totally! Have really appreciated her perspective and support on this project!

[@anth115]

​@@MindandSoilhey quick question

[@anth115]

​@MindandSoil did her explanation on nutrient lockout make sense. Microbes turn it into plant available that's their job yet she claimed the microbes would lock it out in this case?

[@mcuten]

Ashley's dope! Also, kudos to you for testing/experimenting a strongly held belief of yours. Gaining knowledge and growing ourselves (not just our vegetables) is part of life's journey. Life's a bit too boring without pushing yourself to try new things :)

[@MindandSoil]

Couldn't agree more!

[@lowbornCO]

This started out amazingly 😂 Am I missing something? No follow up video?

[@juliagrummel8884]

Thank you so much for this experiment. It’s so exciting!

[@MindandSoil]

Totally!! Keep your eyes peeled for an epic video tomorrow! 👀

[@shannondavis1961]

This is such a fun experiment. Look at you with 4.44 K subscribers too. A very lucky number!

[@MindandSoil]

Woohooooo!

[@rudijleroux7053]

Interesting. Looking forward to your planting.

[@MindandSoil]

Thanks!! Keep your eyes peeled for an epic video tomorrow! 👀

[@juliagrummel8884]

I’m so excited to see what you learn! This is my first year gardening and I filled my garden beds completely with compost from my city’s green collection. I’ve noticed that my transplants do seem to struggle with absorbing nitrogen as well, did a hardware store at home test and got a very similar result for depleted nitrogen. I’m adding some blood meal into my second bed to see if that helps :)

[@MindandSoil]

Oh this is so exciting Julia!! Welcome to the wonderful world of gardening! Are there any specific questions you have at the moment? Happy to help any way that I can!

[@ptwnbratche]

This is so interesting. Who knew that too much organic matter can create competition within the soil that depletes nutrients from the actual plants !

[@dhansonranch]

Sought out this video after Ashley mentioned this. Was interesting because my soil is very similar to yours although I do till once a year. My OM is 1/2 of yours and my nitrogen is slightly higher. Very interesting.

[@suzannebeaudry6245]

This was amazing … loved it and super helpful

[@MindandSoil]

So glad!

[@vildhallon4709]

This is super cool and interesting!

[@MindandSoil]

Thanks so much!! How'd you come across us?!

[@awrmmmcc2885]

18" of compost! That seems a bit more than what Charles Dowding recommends (I think up to 6"for a new bed). How did you get to that number?

[@MindandSoil]

Haha it's a good question! The bed is raised and then I would add 1-2" of fresh compost each fall and spring. But that was faster than the pace of it compacting and sinking into the bed, which was definitely part of what started to get me interested in experimenting with some changes!

[@milounicolaes871]

I'm sooo curious for the results!!!

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

What happened to this experiment? Is there a follow-up video with overall conclusions/comparisons?

[@lindsayingram5827]

This is so interesting! I always top dress with compost or put it in my planting hole. Now I am wondering if that is the right method! Question: if you are removing 12” of organic matter, what are you replenishing the raised beds with so that they are full? Such an interesting video! I can’t wait to follow along throughout the season and see the results of the experiment!

[@MindandSoil]

Great questions Lindsay!! I top dress with compost as well but I would say less nowadays than I did at the beginning. I always transplant with worm castings and an organic fertilizer (either an all-purpose or our rooted food for my root crops). I do that right in the transplant hole and the plants loveeeee it. In terms of the compost I removed, that bed is actually sitting a bit lower now! So there is definitely a gap between the top of the wood and where the soil ends at the moment. But in the years to come I'm sure it will make its way up towards the top :) Can't wait to share results as we go!

[@lindsayingram5827]

@@MindandSoil Thanks for the quick reply! After your gardening seminar last spring I bought Gaia green all purpose fertilizer and worm castings! I will add that to each planting hole and feed my hanging baskets monthly (also with sea magic liquid fertilizer). Fingers crossed for success!

[@MindandSoil]

@@lindsayingram5827 Woohoo! I'm sure it will be an amazing season for ya!!

[@GetFitEatRight]

I do a 50% compost 50% soil mix with a 10-10-10 in the planting hole. For bulbing plants I seed start them with a 15-5-5 and pant them out with a 10-10-10, and top dress with a 10-20-20 once a month.

[@JillianKirbyphotog]

This is so cool!! Would love to know where you get soil tested!

[@MindandSoil]

Thanks!! I do mine at Element Testing and they have been great!

[@emilystrukoff7545]

I love your videos and how you’re always experimenting and learning! I made my garden last year using mostly wood chips with 6” of compost on top. My plants are yellowing from a lack of nitrogen as those wood chips decompose. I have been told to expect that for the first 3 years but I was wondering if I can add anything else or throughout the season to help my plants along a bit in the meantime?

[@MindandSoil]

Oh thanks so much for these words Emily!! Yeah so what I would do is use something like our transplant kit (worm castings + 444 superfood) in the base of each transplant hole and as a top dressing. That will provide all the nutrients right in the root zone for those plants and they should thrive! Where abouts are you gardening?

[@emilystrukoff7545]

We’re in Hope, BC so not not only am I super thrilled to have found your channel because I love that you are driven by the mental health benefits of getting your hands in the dirt, but because you deal with a similar climate so your videos are super relevant! We just converted our front yard into a garden because that’s where we get the most sun with all those mountains making shade (love them though!)

[@MindandSoil]

@@emilystrukoff7545 Amazing!! Yeah my garden is actually super shady as I live really close to The Chief so I only get 5-6hrs of sun per day but still grow stuff really well! So excited to be growing with you!! :D

[@EverettSmithLoveisAll]

Better decomposed compost, ie; let it sit longer before adding it to your beds could be an idea that could address the nitrogen lockup. I would guess the next season the numbers would be significantly different.

[@ninemoonplanet]

For a "second opinion" I would find the Vancouver lab affiliate with the Elaine Ingham group. They're using microscopy to determine the microbial growth, species, and health or changes you might need to make for your compost and soils. I realize this woman is not a huge fan of Elaine Ingham, but perhaps just a second opinion might help clarify your larger environmental factors as well.

[@MindandSoil]

Oh that is such a great suggestion! It would be super cool to get consult/support from them on this bed!!

[@min.5738]

Soo informative! One question, maybe a bit dumb: would the organic matter content lower if the compost is better/longer rotted? Would the lock up of nutrients stop at some point in that same compost?

[@MindandSoil]

Not a dumb question at all Mi! This is great! Let me try to explain here - it will make most sense to think about in a completely isolated scenario. So let's pretend that you filled a bathtub up to the top with compost and only compost. After some time, it would no longer be at the top of the bathtub. It would have dropped let's say 3" in that year. This is due to gravity and water compacting it, and it further decomposing. So, the percentage of organic matter remains the same, but the *volume* of organic matter decreases. This is why adding 1-2" of fresh compost every season is a great practice! Let me know if that makes sense and if that answers it!

[@min.5738]

@@MindandSoil no this makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much for taking the time to explain so well :)

[@MindandSoil]

@@min.5738 My pleasure! It's a great question!

[@JennySimon206]

Okay the too much compost thing. What if it's Hugelkulture, buried below? I always do Hugelkulture

[@MindandSoil]

Great question! Hugelkulture is a great way to fill up lots of space and do so in a cost effective way. I have grown in hugelkulture environments but I have not done any side-by-side experiments. If I were to do something now, I would do Hugelkulture for bottom of a deep raised bed up until 10" from the top of the rraised bed. And then for those top 10" I would do 75% Compost, 25% compost. And then as the bed consolidates and the soil level drops, I would be top dressing with 1-2" of 100% organic compost as needed :)

[@Tracymw99]

I cant find the results video. Can you post limk pls. 😊

[@Raul28153]

pure compost might be low on minerals. I use wood ash for phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. I don't find it changes the pH much at all but like all things; one can overdo it. Sulfut at about half a cup per gallon will neutralize the pH-changing character of wood ash. The bacteria will convert it to the oxoanion called sulfate and in that form the plants can use it.

[@MindandSoil]

Wow thanks for sharing all this! That is great information :)

[@kellyevans9682]

I’m guessing you get your compost from Coast Agg?

[@MindandSoil]

Nope must I make myself in my hot compost facility!

[@timt6860]

Clay by itself = hard as a rock Compost by itself = can't hold water Together they make it work

[@MindandSoil]

Thanks for watching :)

[@bRiMaTiOn]

That all compost bed grew f trees and I know it. That is what the circle of life is and what all the matter and nutrients are. Thats why there is no follow up. Compost 4ever

[@dack4545]

OK I've seen enough at 5:10 into the video, a well made compost would have plenty of Nitrogen in it because of the cow, sheep horse, chicken manue in it, a good soil has the right amount of clay, sand,Charcoal and organic matter, and when you grab a handful of your soil it should still fall apart, not stay in a clump, when you squeeze it gently, the Ammonia from a well made compost, Turns into Nitrogen, from bacteria and microbes in the compost,. My Soil mix is 10 % Charcoal 10% clay 20% cheap Potting mix 20% cow manue 20% high grade home made Compost.... City compost or there mulch is z grade it's full of every seed you can think of,.... DON'T USE IT EVER.....

[@kenbellchambers4577]

Pure compost is not as good as half compost and half coarse sand. If you don't have coarse sand, soil, gravel or simple clay work also, but coarse sand, tiny pebbles or fine gravel make the compost more friable. It is a mechanical issue, not a nutritional one.