How To INCREASE Soil MICROBES (Science & Testing)

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Soil Health is a big topic these days.  and one of the biggest things people focus on when trying to build a healthy soil is your soil microbes. This garden in Canada video looks at what exactly so microbes doing your soil. As well as how to test your microbe populations and methods for fostering microbes in the garden.  so whether you're trying to increase microbes like mycorrhiza, rhizobium,  any sort of soil, fungi, soil, bacteria, soil decomposers . 
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Ashley has had a passion for plants since she was a small child. In the long summers as a child, she would garden alongside her grandmother and it was then that she realized her love for greenery. With years of great studying, Ashley had begun her post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan.
At first, her second love, animals, was the career path she chose but while doing her undergrad she realized that her education would take her elsewhere. And with that, four years later she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor's degree in science and a major in Soil Science.
Some of Ashley's interests are KZbin, in which she posts informative videos about plants and gardening. The focus of Ashley's KZbin channel is to bring science to gardening in a way that is informative but also helpful to others learning to garden. She also talks about the importance of having your own garden and the joys of gardening indoors. Ashley continues to study plants in her free time and hopes to expand her KZbin channel as well as her reach to up-and-coming gardeners.
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This description or comments section may contain links to affiliate websites. I receive a commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such a link. This includes the gardening in Canada website. You should assume all links both on the gardening in Canada KZbin, Blog, and all other social media are affiliates and I will receive compensation.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Click betterhelp.com/gardeningincanada for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Join over 4 million people who’ve met with a therapist on BetterHelp and started living a healthier, happier life.

[@natureboy6410]

Hello. 🤗 I go by Nature boy. An old gypsy woman hung that title on me when I was knee-high to a grasshopper for obvious reasons, lol.🤗 I was just wondering if you have ever had a chance to look into the JADAM natural growing system, the use of JMS, JADAM micro solution, or JLF, JADAM liquid fertilizer??? The Korean father and son that went public with this system, have several free lectures posted on KZbin. It's an extremely wonderful, natural alternative for people with very limited income. Teaching, regardless of your area, how to create and use concentrated microbes an natural fertilizers with local resources.

[@classicrocklover5615]

I'm very sorry for your loss. But i congratulate you for finding a positive outlet during your grief. Your time and efforts are making a difference and are appreciated ❤

[@user-uz8sn1qv8y]

i'm sorry for your loss. i lost my daughter, husband, and mother (she to 'angry dementia' and i was providing her care 24/7), then my lap cat of 23 years. i wouldnt have made it without my therapist....sometimes you just need support! dont let anyone prevent you from reaching out to whatever resources are available to you. .... back to microbes.......

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely! Great insight

[@schnder1]

You are awesome for speaking out. Your bravery, honesty and healthy self survival as well as your smarts are to be admired.

[@daniellebailey6802]

aww girl, I hope you know how much we all love you and appreciate you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you ❤️❤️

[@hmfoden]

“ Things I Moose Do…” 😂😂 Canadian humour at its finest 😂❤

[@GardeningInCanada]

The fact that I didn’t even think that was weird for my notepad is bad 😂😅. Normal peoples note pads don’t that?

[@Argo53]

I'll give it a go. Evapotranspiration, a portmanteau of Evaporation and Transpiration, means all the ways water can go from ground level back into the atmosphere - water surface evaporation, soil moisture evaporation and plant transpiration. (close?)

[@GardeningInCanada]

🫶🏻🥳🎉

[@alanprice9712]

U got it Pontiac 🎉😅

[@brianseybert192]

I know you have had a bunch of recent tragedies, I am glad you have found a way to make sence of it all. Dr Ingham opened my eyes to the wonderful world of the soil food web, even picked up a decent microscope. Could not afford her course, but I gleaned enough from college textbooks to figure out what I was seeing scooting around in my soils and amendments. I agree, there are really no dead soils, just soils lacking in microbes beyond bacteria. I know when I put a fistfull of wormcastings in the hole I stick my tomato plant in, I am also planting a huge diversity of biology, weather it survives or not is another question. For example, one drop from a solution of 1 ml of worm castings and 9 ml of water will have thousands of bacteria, multiple dozens of protozoa, nematodes, fungi and microarthropods. This is the soil food web. I do find it in the garden soils, just not so concentrated. Also agree with diversity of plantings, one you did not mention, perennial roots. I try to keep living roots in all my garden beds 12 months out of the year. The living roots maintain the biology for when you plant in the spring. Amy, You are awesome, Stay Well!!!

[@pdav1285]

I definitely know what you mean by saying that doing any tilling at all is seen by many as being almost sacrilegious. I've actually seen quite a few videos from people who speak on tilling as atrocious, yet will dig up several feet of the soil to do something like a variation on hugelkultur.

[@GardeningInCanada]

... that's literally tillage hahah. goofballs

[@waynesell3681]

I've also struggled with depression and lose of family members. Gonna be 70 this year. Have spent many days recovering while gardening. Your videos also help at many levels! Garden on!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’m so glad that my videos help you. And yes, gardening is an absolute godsend when it comes to mental health and just be able to work her thoughts out.

[@Trivdgun-]

I've been studying soil microbes via YT for a good year or more now. Elaine is one of my go to people. That's how I got put onto KNF and JADAM, etc. Great info.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Very Fun!

[@marionohara5606]

Im so sorry for ur losses Ashley ❤ Its so very hard to loose family so close together...... Hugs 😢

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea not fun!

[@mr.hamilton5393]

Sharing is caring 😊

[@GardeningInCanada]

Always!

[@roishonbowman6174]

Your really dope. Thank you for being so open and vulnerable….we do recover!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely!!

[@pdav1285]

I'm sorry for your losses. While I'm not seeing anyone from betterhelp, I can definitely attest to the value of therapy in particularly hard times in life or even with everyday struggles. It definitely helped me when my mom, whom I had been caring for because she was very sick, died 3 years ago.

[@XTCMatrix]

Nice Jeep! and Dr, Elaine is full of amazing information about soil, especially compost teas!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@barbaralong8665]

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. ❤❤❤

[@GardeningInCanada]

You are so welcome

[@CreativeRedundancy]

Hello Ashley and editing Ashley listening. Enjoyed this very mulch. I just recently added some organic material for the microbes to use since it’s less cold out finally.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nice work!

[@leahnichol6665]

I wound up in grief counselling 14 years after loosing my mother. It turns out, to I was told, that multiple griefs in a short time can lock up the grieving process and I got stuck. I am sorry for all your losses. I know that it is crazy making. I am so glad you are getting help so soon. Thank you for advocating for the people who are helping you.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I believe that. It’s was a wild ride… I feel tough as nails now

[@leahnichol6665]

@@GardeningInCanada I expect you really are! ❤️‍🩹

[@LuckyPat335]

Dude.. you are the Radist gardener in Town. Thanks!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I think this is the first time I have ever been referred to as Rad lol and I appreciate that.

[@LuckyPat335]

@@GardeningInCanada highly deserved... thanks for the information, my Rad Friend :) Lets Go Soil Biology!

[@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919]

We are all soil scientists now after this video haha

[@GardeningInCanada]

Exactly 👍 🤓

[@jstoppard1]

Information can be overwhelming. But I try to incorporate one or two things at a time. Two years ago stopped pulling plants, more regular watering. Then mulching more. Last fall covered all my beds with couple inches mulch. Stopped adding partially broken down compost.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is a perfect goal! Pacing things out is so important.

[@driftlesshermit9731]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@jamessorensen7277]

Thanks!

[@carolstuff]

Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing Ashley!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for watching!

[@teac117]

LOL at the 'creeping' sfx for the radicle emergence.

[@wbshappy1]

Where you been all my gardening life!? You speak "gardening nerd", I love it! (And you're a red-head, so extra points on that!). :). Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

So nice of you

[@mr.hamilton5393]

Good job. .....JADAM GARDENING

[@AllConsumingJAWS]

KNG as well, my friend .

[@mr.hamilton5393]

@@AllConsumingJAWS please elaborate a little bit more sir

[@AllConsumingJAWS]

Korean Natural Gardening. JADAM is a more simplified version...

[@mr.hamilton5393]

@@AllConsumingJAWS ty

[@LaiFamVietNam]

Soil microbiometer is a new tool for counting assessing microbiology activity in soils. Safe and fairly inexpensive :)

[@artstamper316]

Love seeing another "lefty!" Love your humor, too. Great info here.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@donadams2419]

Pulled from Google for meaning: Evapotranspiration:. the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Exactly!

[@marajokegr]

I love your overalls! Like seriously. I tried increasing microbes using bokashi composting last summer and I never did get a batch that didn't smell rank. I have given up on that, but I still have the bokashi bran which I plant to add to my beds this year. Basically you're saying not to bother buying any more (despite the raving recommendations on the bokashi bran packaging).

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s LAB so it’s one of the better options. Popping it into a compost bin is a good place for that. I’m not sure how much benefit you would see with it just in the soil

[@mashal8915]

I am curious on what and how i should be feeding/treating my indoors fruit trees. I am currently adding liquid fertilizer like envy plant doods acid-loving special (21-7-7) Water Soluble Hydrangea, Azalea, & Berry Plant Food and Envy herb & veggie combo special - Water Soluble Plant Food for Soil & Hydro - Professional Grade 5-12-26 & 15.5-0-0 . What is your recommendation on increasing the microbes when growing indoors in containers?

[@dr.froghopper6711]

Oh girl! You have been instrumental in helping me fix my soil. Dr. Ingham has too. I’m being forced into rebuilding the soil at my new home because the previous owner really screwed it up, killing most of the vegetation.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Well, the good news is that you at least get to have fun with reclaiming your soil

[@seth7131]

I've never seen someone speak in tongues! Was a sight to see!

[@dr.froghopper6711]

I grew up Pentecostal and this was a tame service.

[@artstamper316]

@@dr.froghopper6711yep, me too.

[@GardeningInCanada]

AHAHAHAHAHAHHA OMG you guys I’m dying

[@GardeningInCanada]

You guys are way to funny

[@EXTREMERC416]

I really flip my soil/til with my shovel every year. This year too. My leaf mulch is pretty much gone. Ao i have bare soil showing. It all got decomposed during montreal winter???. I hate buying strew or mulches. A bag is 30$.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yeah, mulch is just ridiculously expensive. I was looking at like bagged straw, and I was shocked that people would spend that on a bag of straw.

[@EXTREMERC416]

@@GardeningInCanada my soil is cracking and splitting. I just didnt have enought leaf mulch left after i was done airing it out. Idk what to do. Because if the soil dried and becomes compacted here goes pretty much my garden success and my microbes

[@flatsville9343]

You can grow a covercrop in place, which will give you below & above ground mass. Most gardens benefit from a winter covercrop, which can be winter kill (self-terminating) or winter hardy, which must be terminated mechanically or by hand. (Don't use chemicals aka "burn down.") The US has the SARE on line covercrop guide. I'm certain there's Canadian equivalent. You can by covercrop blends in small quantity from Peaceful Valley online in the US.

[@liav4102]

Are there people who bag their leaves that you trust not to have contaminated them too bad? Could you help them dispose of their yard waste as mulch for your garden?

[@EXTREMERC416]

@@liav4102 i did that last fall. Finding leaves now is going to be hard. They likley going to be full of salt

[@flatsville9343]

Rather than till in organic matter, you could grow a deep rooted covercrop which would be more effective as those roots can go feet deep without shedding your soil via tilling. A CC can also give you below & above ground organic mass. You can buy small quantity covercrop blends from Peaceful Valley.

[@katharine5606]

Guess I’m a geek… new viewer/subscriber here loves the info breakdown- thanks!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hello!!! And welcome 🙏

[@bal20]

Ok im in on this channel 👍

[@that_garden_gnome]

RIP mickey feeding our red headed soil scientol...i mean soil scientists, one sip at a time

[@northsidedork_3043]

Does all of this apply to potted plants? I use fabric bags and have used the white bags of Miracle-Gro potting mix from Costco.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’ll maybe do a video on this… because it’s definitely a topic on its own

[@zmblion]

Wild ride last night??? Must be what the coffee is for lol

[@GardeningInCanada]

🤣🤣

[@ashleyfurrow4414]

Is the video on soil compaction out yet? Thanks!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Coming soon! Friday is when that’s gonna come out!

[@ashleyfurrow4414]

Yay! I and my compacted clay soil thank you.

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video on microbes 🇳🇿❤️

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dwwcoder5048]

Gardening helps with this process and I regret not doing it sooner. Which is why I’m trying to figure out how to keep my grow bag garden from becoming anaerobic. I have been using coarse vermiculite with potting soil, mix or coconut along with compost. However, I have to go through the garden and remix the medium on top after rainfalls like now. Is this a good idea to keep doing after watering as well?

[@vWiewioR]

Gotta take care of this tiny zoo and feed it : D

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hah awe

[@SirSloop1919]

Mulching AF in NJ.

[@SirSloop1919]

and growing nasturtiums and marigolds AF in NJ

[@giselelavallee7259]

I have a garden bed that smells musty - how can his be fixed without changing the soil? Can this affect the food that grows in this soils?

[@mespain4061]

Is the glyphosate effect actually pleomorphism/polymorphism? GASTON NAESSENS-THE SOMATID AND THE SOMATOSCOPE

[@ebradley2306]

Wonder about the effects of chlorinated water.

[@sgpetermann]

For my tomato plants, I'm using dissolved Miracle-Gro tomato plant fertilizer every two weeks. I'm wondering if after each application I top dress with a small amount of worm castings each time if that will help in repopulating the microbes and maintain their diversity as I water the plants during the interim period between the two weeks. Or is that unnecessary?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I would skip it. It’s not going to do much particularly in a potting soil system. That’s a beast on its own

[@sgpetermann]

Thanks. As an engineer, I really appreciate your scientific approach. I've gardened a bit before but now that I'm retired and really getting into gardening, it makes so much difference to get empirically informed information.

[@belieftransformation]

Very fun & interesting facts; thanks for sharing! I’m thankful that you’ve found help that is useful to you & sending “grandma hugs” to you🤗🇨🇦

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you found us too! Welcome aboard

[@andrewsusen3154]

When did I come across the University section of KZbin. There was so much Info my brain got overloaded haha. I'm curious what are your opinions on worm castings and worm tea?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Sorry! I try to make sure it’s not too overwhelming. I’ll do a video on those amendments/fertilizers

[@andrewsusen3154]

@GardeningInCanada It was just all the terms I don't know. Ill have to look some up and watch again. The part about insulin was very interesting.

[@jonathanhao1640]

Hi, how can one reintroduce beneficial microbes back into the potting soil after baking the soil in the oven to get rid of fungus gnats? Thanks.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Are we talking just potting soil or soil soil?

[@jonathanhao1640]

@@GardeningInCanada potting soil

[@BetterDeadThanRed99]

I would use a handful or two of vermicompost.

[@samartinez1988]

You reminded me I have insect frass! Insect frass is full of mad bio. 😂

[@rdraffkorn3184]

so what you're saying is all one needs is the right amount of organic matter and green growing plants... ?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Essentially lol mimic Mother Nature

[@wendymoyer782]

Better Help is still beyond the means of most people who kight like to use it.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s today’s problem. Therapy is over looked

[@dreamlovermimi9458]

cant wait to make some Lactic acid bacteria, and plant the legumes

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have random legumes all over haha

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️❤️❤️

[@blueiru7351]

evapotranspiration is just evoporation of water because of atmosfer heat + transpiration from the water used by plants when they breathe (because they need water too) that is what i know, how about you guys? edit: microorganism need to breathe too, they need water too so.... that count as transpiration isn't it?

[@liav4102]

Hmm can we get an Osmosis Jones but for soil microbes? It seems like there would be unlimited drama if we personified these bacteria

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahah awe

[@tobruz]

Ah, the tightly whitey test, I knew this was coming

[@GardeningInCanada]

Lollll

[@boansy1]

Wild night out me thinks 😆

[@GardeningInCanada]

😏 knowing me I probably was lost in a book and that was my wild night

[@jeil5676]

What does clamatto in the thumbnail have to do with this? I'm not wasting bloody caesars on my dirt.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Lmfao absolutely zero

[@SH-jy6lc]

Sorry i didnt get it. So you are saying i cant look at my soil under the microscope without a proper PPE? I was going to buy a microscope for my kids 5000x

[@leahnichol6665]

What I heard her say was, please do not culture your soil microbes at home in a petrie dish. Some of them are harmful.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh you can! Not the petri dish. If you have just soil that’s find

[@MushroomMagpie]

Your neighbour's look like they probably have lots of grass clippings... I do what i can to keep my neighbour's green bins empty.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have got my neighbours addicted to gardening now to... so they hoard their grass.

[@lostpony4885]

Better help, that brings up a question do the soil microbes have empathy? I mean does our presence affect them that way i guess i heard something about garden plants notice our presence so....how bout the mycoverse guys...

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’m not sure! I think myth busters maybe did an episode on the plants idea.

[@driftlesshermit9731]

I'm pretty sure they see us as a virus.

[@shawnsg]

From my limited exposure to Dr. Ingham she seems like a borderline MLM grifter promoting science-adjacent "eco-methods" selling courses, certifications, microscopes, lab services, training courses to teach courses, and a bunch of other junk. The worst part is she uses her pedigree and her soil science background to craft really good sounding nonsense and half-truths that's convincing to many people.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That was a wonderful description ... I have a video on her but I think I took it down lol

[@raydel5732]

To close, to close

[@AllConsumingJAWS]

🗣 Roar...‼️

[@1mm0rtaldreads]

if you like elaine ingham you should check out matt powers hes really taken the lead on the science he started.

[@billiebruv]

Yeah, generally the chemical scientists accept the biological science, but they aren't trained in it, so they have no real understanding of soil function