How to Properly Re-Mineralize the Garden For Spring

Remineralizing the soil is something that makes a good practice of will benefit you in the long run with a healthy soil structure, healthy plants, and ultimately a healthier food source for you.
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[@twocvbloke]

It's the circle of life, feed the soil that feeds the plants that feeds the human that feeds the soil... :)

[@abdeton1899]

very well put!

[@karenlawson4888]

Knowing what your compost is made of and where it's being sourced is soooo very important! In 2010 my hubby built raised beds around the perimeter of our side and backyard. As we are situated on hard pan clay, we had to start our garden soil from scratch. We scraped enough money together to buy a full dump truck full of 3 way garden mix from a local nursery. 2010 is the year our county made the national news when the herbicide aminopyralid laced compost was sold to professional organic gardens as well as the home gardeners. Nothing would grow, I couldn't figure out why everything kept dying. After googling why are my plants yellowing and dying did I find out why. We had to empty 12 yards of contaminated soil out of my garden, pay the dump to get rid of it and repurchase soil that had been assayed. It was a massive catastrophe!! The nursery wouldn't even replace the contaminated soil much less all the veggie starts I planted three times. Needless to say, we will never give our business to that nursery again. They were downright nasty and denied having purchased their soil mix from the contaminated source. Oh, ya, she also threatened me with legal action if I didn't stop saying I bought contaminated compost from her. And I wasn't the only home gardener she verbally attacked. I know of dozens of gardeners she alienated forever.

[@eyadhamza3147]

what city was this in and which nursery was it?

[@karenlawson4888]

Was in Bellingham, Washington state, Whatcom county. The nursery has since gone out of business. In case you are local to me, we get our gardening solid from Grow Source in Bellingham, WA and our daughter trusts the garden mix from Northstar in Ferndale, WA.

[@richardtibbetts574]

That’s too bad. Hope your garden is doing better now.

[@t-bone6467]

@@karenlawson4888 their great customer service Karma caught up with them.

[@ale347baker]

​​@@karenlawson4888 I lived in Everson up until 2001! I miss that place. I hope everything is growing well for you now!

[@shaungarbry88]

Luke, this is one of your best videos. Probably the best explination of the relationship between microbes and, minerals, and organic matter I have heard.

[@groundedapproach]

I love that you always explain the WHY of what we’re doing. It really helps!

[@nstolliver]

This is precisely the info that I was in need of today. Thanks so much for the value that you provide!

[@EK-wi2me]

I literally listen to your videos while I do chores. I'm learning so much and having things I knew vindicated. I hope this helps me grow into a gardener 😊

[@MadameM.]

I do the same! I have learned so much.

[@melonhead849]

You answered some questions I had! I'm in Minnesota and this was my first year gardening. Thanks for the tips!

[@endtimeherald5755]

well done, its refreshing to finally hear someone emphasize the importance of getting the soil microbiome in correct balance before attempting to grow things...you have an excellent way of explaining the various processes...well done

[@susanbell7252]

Learning container gardening and so far its been productive. I have problems with snails and slugs. I have compost barrel i use for chicken coop bedding compost but i add my house composting stuff right into my totes and cover it with old wood chips. I crunch up my egg shells and sprinkle around my plants. I read it deters the slugs. Im thinking of adding this rock dust before i cover them with leaves this fall. Thank you for your sharing your knowledge.

[@adriankap2978]

Great tip about egg shells. I just read for cutworms, to stick a toothpick next to the stem at planting so it thinks it's an older stem and not a new plant seedling stem and will move on.

[@VaughnMalecki]

Compost, ashes, charcoal, vermicompost, wood chips, and fall leaves for me.

[@happyuk06]

Also good to check out GumTree for people giving away horse manure for free. I get it from a stable and a gypsy family, let it rot down for a number of months and the end product is like rocket fuel.

[@debbiejackson39]

happyuk06 no thanks with all the dewormers and shots they give horses

[@catherinefletcher837]

@vaughn malecki curious about the ashes you use and the charcoal 😊

[@daltonjitner7093]

@Vaughn Malecki ...... Never mix fresh wood chips into the soil. You have to be very specific or someone could really screw themselves. Also a lot of wood ashes will alkalize the soil

[@wobblybobengland]

@@daltonjitner7093 Pee in the ashes, leave over winter.

[@creativelivingwithspencert9997]

thanks for breaking down the simple know-how of WHY we do this. I especially liked the description of the bacteria and micorhizae as miners of the minerals from the micronized rock dust and azemite amendments, living in the humus, and exchanging the minerals with the plant for sugars, and then further breaking down the humus into organic matter. great!

[@leevandyke4562]

I usually put the plants laying on top of the raised bed and i fill it back up with leaves and hay/ straw. It usually breaks down by spring. My neighbors always put their leaves in the brown paper bags so i just take those ❤

[@RareRiddemz]

Great idea taking the brown bags of leaves. My municipality gets enough free compostable material! I am absolutely "stealing" those bags this fall.

[@compticny888]

Growing up, dad had me using the post hole digger to get as deep as possible to put in his trees that we planted around the property. What we took from the holes was added to the compost pile and then to the garden when it was dry enough to use the wheel barrel so we could reach all parts of the half acre garden.

[@phuoctammynguyen3946]

Very informative video. I love gardening, but just not know how to maintain one that's sustainably organic. So glad to have found your channel. Wishing you and your venture great success. Great health to you and your family too!!!

[@zachbenson5653]

If you haven’t already. I’d love to see a video on preparing brand new barren ground for a first ever planting. Building a planter. Preparing the soul. What kind of crops would work best, or together in smaller bed. Also for city-gardeners who only have the option to plant in pots Thanks

[@lispottable]

You are my favorite gardener. Thanks for all the great info and encouragement!

[@lstanzione91]

Thank you for this great video on relationship of rock dust and homemade compost !!!

[@edwardbenton8323]

Course sand has a ton of trace minerals $13 a truck load, soil from our local saw mill $85 a truck load, and organic material leaves, logs, and fruit/veggie scraps. Place the logs on the South and West sides of plants to knock off the sun, this keeps in moisture, plants off the ground, and the soil from overheating.

[@jakelancey4769]

I like the tips. I tend to turn my garden in the spring add manure and compost and and a organic garden all purpose revitalization fertilizer

[@DameObserver108]

Thank you so much, Luke. I follow you religiously for a couple years now and my garden this year is AMAZING!

[@dgerdi]

Thank you for this very very valuable information! Your work and your advice is appreciated a lot!

[@jthepickle7]

To give you microbes a boost, when prepping your beds, four or five gallons of water mixed with 1 cup of UN-sulfered molasses will increase their numbers. (apply with a watering can) The organic gardener feeds the soil.

[@KB-2222]

Yesssss! Oh and add it to your compost pile routinely to feed the microbes, bacteria and fungi!

[@sislertx]

Lol..now i know why two people gave me jars of molasses during pandemic...i had no idea why ...

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Great information Luke!

[@sheilaclark2903]

Luke, I wish I could automatically thumps up all your videos. My wife and I are new to vegetable gardening and truly appreciate the great information learned, by us, from you. All our best. Thanks. Perry and Sheila From Kentucky (The city part).

[@theresakoch3738]

Sheila Clark I thumbs up as I watch them so I can keep track. Continual learning, what a blessing Luke is for this.

[@cherylgunraj6432]

This was really informative for me, now I know compost is just one step to feeding my vegetable. You were very detailed how to prepare for spring and I should have more yielded crops this summer

[@marilynrowland5197]

Very informative, straightforward, and relatively easy! So very helpful! Thanks, Luke!

[@susanjordan2130]

Thanks Luke. I learn so much from you.

[@AutismPickle]

The wealth of knowledge is intangible. I thankyou.

[@skatingcanuck9837]

Thank you for this video Luke. I would love to see a recipe for soil nutrients like you provided in your fall garlic planting video.

[@marzymarrz5172]

Good plug for composting!

[@rominhawk3949]

Great explanations and presentation; thank you.

[@luba-healthywithluba6866]

Thank you for this valuable content!

[@georgevillanueva2437]

Excited to use our homemade compost for the first time this Spring.

[@badvibesnosleep975]

awesome video!! This is what Isabella and i are going to do this weekend!!

[@ghostridergale]

Look forward to trying your tips! Thanks for sharing

[@kennylaird4347]

Love the passion , never see you show that much passion on a post , grow big sir

[@fudroysmith7948]

Late January, snowed 6 inches last night, but I'm in April in my mind. Planning my garden and excited to get going and growing! Your vids are inspiring, thanks!

[@Tara-id3rk]

Mid March and we had the biggest snow storm all year. Spring is right around the corner, but it’s going to be a while still for us. I’m itching to get outside and working!!

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I like the new music thank for the helpfull information. From Ontario Canada

[@YouCantEatTheGrass]

We buy extra compost most years. We went and picked up some horse manure this week to age for spring.

[@zachbelafi5956]

Love your videos! Been recently binging all of your videos as I am trying to grow as a gardener. It is only my second year as a gardener and this year was demoralizing. So, I went out to seek solutions and learn and I stumbled upon your channel. Love everything you do bro!

[@brusselsprout5851]

I'm not giving back the soil enough. I see that now. Thank you Luke!

[@HieroCrew420]

This guy is constantly dropping knowledge

[@practicalsurvivor693]

I appreciate the tips! I'm trying to be a better gardener, Michigan is kinda rough on non-natives.

[@EC4400]

Very informative. Thanks

[@kalinbroadie8555]

Beautifully said...thanks!

[@Cecil_X]

Do you plan these puns? @10:41 "Your garden will be ready to rock in the spring"

[@ShelitaRN]

thank you Luke!

[@berbchiderly6241]

built new beds this spring.. filled the bottom third with leftover pieces of the birch tree that was taken down last year, then topped that with a mix of soil from old beds, spruce shavings, and a bagged hummus/garden soil, with a couple shovel fulls of ash from our outdoor firepit. On top of that a mix of potting soil, the last bits of the hummus and shavings, and peat moss. Worked on bone and blood meal into the top foot of it as well. When taking things out we'll leave as much root as possible behind, on top, to be killed and start decomposing over winter (it gets down to -40 regularly and we get a decent amount of snow). We will work that and more blood and bone meal, plus peat moss and more hummus-rich soil.

[@jenniferprescott8655]

Very Nice!..one of your best vids yet..Sharing on fb,

[@mistyjenkins5771]

Thank you for alk you do! I am learning so much!

[@katievessels7403]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@gregorybupp]

Something I'd love to see is a rundown of tools you would recommend. I notice you have a galvanized steel wheelbarrow. Worth it? Just as an example.

[@rebeccas.kailyaird4994]

Thank you for this video! This really cleared up some questions I had. I didn't cover my beds before winter hit because I built a polly tunnel over them. But a wind storm tore the poor thing to shreds so my beds are open and bare now. I have a lot of work to do this spring 😕

[@Caroleeena]

I didn't cover mine either. I turned some woodchips and pine pellets into it and some scraps from my kitchen but not much. I think I have a lot to do this spring too....

[@loismegin8036]

Never, never turn woodchips into the soil as it uses the nitrogen to decompose the woodchips. But don’t despair, it’s fixable! Look it up.

[@nickmeale1957]

Good video, you are doing gods work man

[@sarojjett1806]

Very good to know. Thank you !

[@vermouth310]

thank you for useful information!!!

[@WH6FQE]

Actually, this is the way I always thought too until I learned about the permaculture way of gardening and started learning more about how the micro-organisms and macro-organisms in the soil biology actually work together. For the past 4 years now I have not added any fertilizers on my garden beds at all other than topping them off with compost and adding worm castings. I concentrate on building the life up in my soil and they create the macronutrients and micronutrients that the plants need. Think about it this way for a moment. Who fertilizes the forests? Noone does, the forests fertilize themselves through the beauty of nature working in harmony. Once I grasped that concept I started working with nature instead of against it, and I now have larger yields with no financial input whatsoever. I haven't spent a single penny on my garden in the past 3 years now, yet I am able to keep reaping the benefits of a lush plentiful garden and the soil gets better and better each year that I do it this way. Look into it, it makes gardening so much easier and less stressful.

[@bernardreed6161]

I like your advise. Tks for sharing.

[@WH6FQE]

I Am a Man, Not a Person not Back to Eden as I do not grow in mulch. I use what is considered Permaculture Gardening. I garden the way that nature designed. No one fertilizes the forest, yet everything grows without being fertilized. It is done by the natural decomposition if organic materials becoming the necessary nutrients for plant growth.

[@carl8568]

@@WH6FQE Can you suggest any good channels to check out that know a lot about permaculture?

[@flatsville1]

@@carl8568 Dr. Elaine Ingham vids & publications are a good place to start. Her focus is on sustainable farming using permsculture principals. Gardener Scott on his KZbin channel recently explained this for home gardeners. The vid has "fertilize" in the title...& generally advises against it for other than first year for a raised bed that contains majority actual soil (dirt) than compost. People who grow in majority compost will always have to fetilize & remineralize. Compost is NOT soil (dirt.) There is a qualitative & quantitative difference.

[@flatsville1]

@@carl8568 Here is the Gardener Scott vid linked below. I asked him recently how much actual dirt he places in his tall raised beds. He said the bottom 25% is small branches & 75% is actual native top soil (actual dirt) by volume. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpDTlGZ7Z7yHoLs

[@maryruggiero4392]

Hi, I just discovered your videos, they are great! I decided last year to be ready for a better gardening season, and I find myself behind the 8 ball. So much for even comparing myself to my former farmer neighbor who always has bumper crops!!Ok, so what if I didn't prepare my soil for spring, and now it is March 18th!? Can I add these things now? I did however, cover my soil with the fall grass clippings from the last cut of the year, which are still on top of the soil, and I do compost, so we have some great soil to add. Thank you in advance, I will stay tuned. Mary

[@whodidit99]

Never heard this anywhere. Thanks. I'll do this next year.

[@highpuritycbd3567]

We need you to advise the Dept. of Agriculture on how to make the best use of our land!

[@veronicabe7902]

you are very knowledgeble.

[@HealthierRoots]

Thank you for sharing this topic!

[@MIgardener]

Thanks for watching! Happy gardening. :)

[@nomansland8499]

Very informative,thank you

[@vikkid245]

This was great. Will try this year. By the way, how do I replenish indoor potting mixes? I try to bring some of my pepper plants in to overwinter as well as some to grow over the winter. I did this last year, so I have the soil from last year and don't want to spend lots of dollars again.

[@CatsMeow14]

I know this video is 5 years old, so advice may have changed. I worry about contaminated compost/soil even from agricultural or landscaping companies. Roots and Refuge on youtube has some good videos recently addressing this. It is a growing issue, and not all landscaping companies can confirm their soil or compost has been tested specifically for contamination. Would love to see a video from MIgardener on this topic, as it is affecting more and more of us.

[@compticny888]

Dad would have me take the post hole digger out to the back and go as deep as I could. The dirt would be used to put the final layer of dirt onto the garden/kitchen scraps that were in the trench.

[@jody2873]

Never heard some of this before- thanks!!

[@cynthianunez1]

Thank you! I always love the detailed videos.

[@mariannatodd7010]

Learned something new! For a FL garden, we can always have something growing, whether it's radishes and peas or okra and peppers. Almost year round. Any ideas on when or how to let garden soil rest or when to re-mineralize it?

[@evcin8285]

You rock dude thank you

[@suitsbyamy844]

Thank you for this video! I was just thinking about what I need to do for my beds this fall. I had no idea I needed to cover the beds with something to insulate them. Glad I watched this 😊.

[@robbonner]

Great video!

[@heavymechanic2]

Considering growing in pure compost, there are no minerals and additional inputs are required. I prefer growing in soil and amended it with compost, there are far more minerals in native soil. Nearly all ocean products have a wide spectrum of trace minerals and are a great choice to add to your garden. This includes kelp, oyster, fish products, crab, ocean salts, Epsom, azomite is related and mined in Utah. The past few years my production has improved by using Crab Shell, Fish Fertilizer, Azomite and Worm Castings in clay soil.

[@patphatkitten]

Heavy mechanic. Someone else mentioned azomite. I hear egg shells (ground in coffee grinder after cleaning and gently drying in oven) and fish scales are great, although I do not garden and would like to start.

[@tomleonard1589]

Very informational video! How long does Azomite stay in a raised bed before you need to apply more.

[@gwarbaby3024]

Great video

[@ultrathrive8818]

What a great video dude!!

[@112jungle]

Field peas are my favorite cover crops.

[@cassieoz1702]

Yes, I grow them through winter and harvest the pea tips fir salad and stirfries

[@Epiphalactic]

For anyone needing to add large amounts af habitat for these microlife forms, add biochars activated with diverse microlife in addition to the organic matter and humus. It is one of the single best things you can do for your garden. Also, use living mulch. Something that grows in thick and can fix nitrogen from the air so it's not stealing it from the ground is a good idea. Stuff like clover. This is not so much to have the Clover fixed the nitrogen into the soil for the other plants though that will happen to some degree. On top of the living mulch doing things like adding straw as well as other cover crops such as tillage radishes are extremely beneficial.

[@krustysurfer]

Great advice mahalo and aloha

[@TrollHiddenCave]

Thank you for explaining how to use azomite properly I saw one video where a guy did lab test and it had bad results but he most likely didn't have any microbes

[@sonyamelzer1047]

Can I do this in the spring, if I missed the fall? Thank you! Love your videos!!!

[@PeUrmeleMantuitorului]

Very interesting informations! 😊😉😎

[@gocart3440]

Cover crop, crop and drop. No till is so much simpler. But to each their own.

[@GimmeADream]

Interesting video! A lot there that I never considered. Thanks!

[@terryteal8734]

Thanks for all your information. I am an old lady and you have taught me so much. I am confused about the water. City chemicals kill the microbs right? Then how do you water with the hose????

[@ozarkview928]

After being a traditional gardener for 30 + years I got raised beds late last spring we filled them with composted cow manure because we have our own free. I added bagged top soil from Walmart and granular fertilizer and my veggies did great . Last fall I topped them with chopped leaves which most blew off😫 and some partially composted rabbit droppings .Being February now and 6-8 weeks to spring here , can I still add minerals to the beds to benefit this season ? Also should I top the beds off with cow manure compost again ? Or incorporate more top soil ?

[@tammyrea8781]

I was wondering did you remove the grass before you placed the wood shavings between the beds? Or did you have to put landscape fabric down to keep grass from growing through?

[@mooshmobile]

Great video! Any suggestions for a cover crop for zone 4 raised beds?

[@hilow8331]

oreganooooo!!!!!!

[@gordonparsons3887]

Can I do this exact same process in the spring prior to planting? I am just discovering your channel and I have had very little success with my raised bed garden with the exception of tomatoes, garlic and string beans... nothing else seems to thrive... things I have had no luck with have been carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, spinach ans swiss chard... and because of that I have put off trying to grow cucumbers and squash, or pumpkin and I add compost every spring and fall and also cover with straw over winter. I live in Eastern Canada and have just purchased basalt powder which is like your rock powder and I have home-made compost so that's why I'm wondering now as it's spring, if I can do what this tutorial is suggesting NOW in the spring as well as in the fall before winter hits. Thank you in advance Luke... I love you and your channel.

[@imafan2610]

I love your show and the information you provide. I am confused though with the concept of "self sustaining". It seems an oxymoron since whether synthetic or organic, in either case nutrients taken out needs to be replaced. It is mainly a difference of the source of the replacement. Organic replacements are dependent on the soil web and are not readily available to plants until they are converted. It is true that a living soil is what is needed in any case to have a healthy and productive garden.

[@ginapettinger9052]

Hey Luke, Thanks so much for your videos. I just love your channel. My question is If I prepared my beds for winter with Azomite, humic acid and worm casting, do I still have to add these things again come spring?

[@carolstrickland6979]

For us container gardeners, I would think if possible put all the used soil together and add the rock dust, azomite and compost, then put in something that would let air flow then in spring repeat but this time after doing the add ins mix well, moisten and plant up containers. Does that seem correct or is there more. Thank you from Alaska.

[@vikkid245]

I have both raised beds as well as smaller containers. I'm thinking of dumping all the soil from the containers into the raised beds before revitalizing the bed in Fall. In spring, hopefully the soil had been enriched so I can refill the containers back with this soil. Anyone think this will work?

[@johnreeves3380]

Luke, in addition to rock dust and azomite twice annually on top of my beds, would you also agree recommend just bit to my worm food? My thought is my red wrigglers are helping me get trace minerals in a useable soluble form for my beneficial bacteria’s and fungi when I’m putting my castings into my beds. Your thoughts?

[@juliegogola4647]

I am trying to use all organic soil additives and fertilizers, I've used my own compost too, which I had been sure that since it still had plant bits that hadn't broken down all the way, meant that my compost hadn't been quite "done' enough. And, I've (this spring) used only organic fertilizers like "composted chicken manure", "bone meal for my root veggie crops, "Biozome" with mycorrhizae, "Marine cuisine" a marine based fertilizer that claims to even deter soil nematodes from getting a hold in the soil, for example if you grow a plant that is in the same family as a plant you grew last year, according to the plant food info, if you use the stuff, those nematodes shouldn't have it easy to harm your plants. BUT, I am kinda iffy about planting more than 1 plant in that spot. In case the plant food label is wrong. I also use bunny poo that I buy on Ebay as a tea to add to side dress some plants that are NOT salad greens. Soak it in water in an old gallon jug or medium sized jug. When you uncap it, it IS FOUL smelling, BUT, when you get it it is in little balls, so, you have to either find a way to make it into powder, or soak it in water and use the fluid or "tea" of it to add some nutreints to the soil or plants. It is NOT a HOT manure, BUT, use on salad greens is something I';d be afraid to do. After some quick research, I will use my already bought greensand for adding stuff to my old potting soil beds. What bugs me is how my neighbor uses mostly chemical fertilizers, full of salts, and HE gets nicer tomatoes than I get every year! IF he is doing it by great pruning of the suckers and things like that, it can only go so far. He has his tomatoes staked to just 1 main stem and gets fewer BUT bigger fruits. I always find it hard to keep my tomatoes from being too wild and too "over pruned". Sorry for rambling too much here. At least if my research is right, excess Azomite should NOT be harmful. SO, if a person adds it to soil that is NOT lacking the nutrients in it, it should NOT be harmful without you just going all gonzo and adding many bags of it. Without a soil test, you don't know IF your soil NEEDS the Azomite. I mean a soil test by the pros at a college or whomever does it in your area, BUT, adding the stuff should NOT do any harm unless you are in an area of the country where high concentrations of the nutreints are in the soil. Maybe Michigan is an area of the US where soil fertility is low in trace nutreints? So, this stuff is needed?

[@DaMataFamilyEGarden]

Very good info! What is the product you use to mineralized?

[@veronicabe7902]

Hi, you have mentioned that you mix your soil with 50% sand, how do you do that. because what you show is the finish product. will the sand sink to the bottom and the compost on top. how do you mix them, in the bed, or out on the well burrow. thanks, ..... many.

[@isaacfrerichs3305]

Do you have a source as to where to purchase it from?

[@kimberlyrichards6465]

Hi Luke, I am going to be starting my first box garden here in Florida in February, any tips or advice on how to get going? I will be starting a compost pile but fir this coming year I need to start from the ground up literally.

[@bill.Latham]

Great video what would you suggest I have a garden not raised bed what can I do now as far as adding nutrients to prepared to plant in May?