Gardening Unplugged - Healthy garden soil (pro tips) with master gardener Tony Avent

[@L.A.6482]

Every gardener should be watching this channel!! Terrific.

[@bmoody82]

This is the best lesson on soil health I've ever heard.

[@Plantdelights]

Thank you!

[@tntropics]

Great tips

[@Plantdelights]

Thank you!

[@orchidgarden3124]

This is awesome! It’s the key to good gardening and so misunderstood by most. I’d love to hear more of this!

[@Plantdelights]

We couldn't agree more : )

[@ibizablonde]

Thank you. This is helpful.

[@Plantdelights]

You're welcome!

[@rogerboeve4658]

I’m concerned about the composition of my compost. Chicken manure, wood ashes, horse manure, mostly oak leaves. What should go on the compost pile? Love your videos.

[@Plantdelights]

Chicken and horse manure are considered green material, while oak leaves count as brown material. Both of those are great. Wood ashes are ok to use (sparingly) if your soil is on the acidic side. Keep in mind that wood ash contains calcium carbonate which makes it very alkaline.

[@lilyw.1788]

I have heavy clay soil to the point that after 4 inches of top soil, the clay underneath is like pottery clay. I poured water into the clay and the water just sits for days. When I plant, I have to plant 4 inches above ground because I don't want to dig a "pot" into the clay to set my plant in. Ive been adding top soil and triple shredded mulch every year but it seems like I am just creating a berm in my flower bed. What do you suggest I can do to help break down that clay underneath?

[@Plantdelights]

Heavy clay is hard to work with by hand. If your goal is a nice perennial bed, try tilling the top 10-12 inches of clay with a pine bark soil conditioner and compost to create a good base. You can top it with more compost and mulch. Like Tony mentions, as long as you mix in some of the native soil, your drainage should be fine. Select plants that like even moisture and/or can tolerate wet soil, there are many great choices!

[@laneeacannon1450]

Make JMS. JADAM Microbial Solution. Simple and free way to boost your microbial population which allows roots to grow deeply.

[@ibizablonde]

Would grass clippings do any harm to flowerbeds?

[@Plantdelights]

Grass clippings are not great for mulching for several reasons. First, some grasses can root from cuttings, so all those little pieces will sprout roots and create a big weed problem. Second, a large enough clump of them will start to decompose attracting bacteria that can cause rot. And the third reason is that the bacteria that decompose organic matter are very nitrogen hungry and can actually deplete the soil of nitrogen. We recommend removing grass clipping from the beds after lawn moving to prevent these problems. If a little bit remains, that's ok, but if you find large amounts of clippings deposited on the soil and plants you should ask the landscaper to remove them.

[@laneeacannon1450]

Nitrogen eating bacteria decompose the grass and make it bioavailable to the plants. Learn about the soil food web.

[@aym280]

No dig doesn't work if you have clay soil.

[@margaretblock9974]

No dig has been wonderful for my clay soil in the Charlotte area. I just keep piling up and the worms and such are doing all the tilling for me!!!