Soil health 101: when to test and amend your garden soil!

[@litaapreston9605]

This is a very difficult topic to explain and follow. I think you did an awesome job putting it into context for us to understand. I am a firm believer in letting mother nature do her thing and we should stop interfering. Very interesting to hear about the sunflowers taking up toxins. I am very interested in knowing what you find out in another year or two.

[@MichaelMotyer]

You rock! In a world where agriculture is at cross road with nature, we need to educate farmers on the best and easiest practises to generate the best yields! I always enjoy your videos and look forward to more information on Soell Health

[@raarnt]

And yes I really do believe also in the power of mycorrhizal fungi. I potted up my lilac tree inoculating the root ball before planting and fertilized only with (diluted)bokashi tea and eggshell water.. So far the tree is sprouting beautifully and for me it just goes to prove that little nutrients is more than enough when the root system has a healthy microlife

[@wandahuntoon8529]

Wow! I'm going to listen to this a few times so I can digest all the information. Thank you!!!!!

[@livegiverun9275]

You are a wealth of gardening knowledge! I learn so much listening to your videos! Thank you so so much for all the time you take to share this amazing information to all of us :)

[@raarnt]

You are such an inspiration to me, and surely many many others. I'm just blown away at how you are able to explain everything so nicely and I understood everything. Thank you

[@Blossomandbranch]

You are so welcome!🙏

[@kfetter9046]

What an absolutely fascinating topic, and you explain it very well! I first learned about microbes in the soil several years ago when I attended a talk about soil health. The speaker was ahead of her time, and the information was mind blowing. It sure took us a long time to start studying what goes on in our soil, but at least we are making great strides in starting to understand it.

[@dawnreynolds519]

That was so interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@miraearles3372]

Thank you for all that practical info! I worked at a market garden for several years and I'm convinced they over fertilized and over watered and it affected their profitably. I was just the farm hand but I am working towards starting a small farm in the future and I love learning and planning how to do the best job i can!

[@marybendfeldt9596]

This is very helpful, but now I am wondering about my homemade compost. Will look up if it can also be too much! I’m surrounded by soily people and learning so much!

[@grisespino5342]

Upcoming book 📖 ?! That is awesome and will be so helpful ! Yes lots of questions??? We have a gardenia in a pot that’s experiencing iron deficiency. Purchased organic soil acidifier and liquidnox iron and zinc.

[@charlesbale8376]

Wonderful bits of useful information.

[@waweboardgirl]

If you would do a video about terra preta, I would love it. You are one of my favorite KZbinrs.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks so much!!!

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Hi there! I wanted to reach out to let you know that your garden might be hosting some unexpected guests-Asian jumping worms. They're an invasive species known for their unique 'jumping' behavior and can impact soil health and plant growth. These worms consume organic matter in the soil at an alarming rate, leading to a significant reduction in the nutrients available for plants. The soil left behind is often likened to coffee grounds in texture, which can harm plant growth and reduce biodiversity. By altering the soil structure and nutrient cycles, jumping worms negatively affect native plants and wildlife. They can outcompete native worm species and disrupt the food web. Their presence can be detrimental to gardens and agricultural land due to the rapid degradation of soil quality, affecting crop yield and plant health.Thought you might want to check as a heads-up. Love your content and looking forward to your next video!

[@MyFocusVaries]

I noticed that freaky jump! I've seen videos about jumping worms. There's not much to be done about them either.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

@@MyFocusVaries It’s terrible. My background is researching invasive species so I belong to a Facebook group dedicated to this. Some are having success controlling them, so hopefully there are some solutions. I’ve stopped buying any type soil amendments in the last few years 🤞🏻

[@sindirodriguez1030]

I have just started to garden and was thinking I need to work on my phobia of worms and caterpillars…..but there’s jumping ones now????? I am growing fruits in containers. Using organic potting mix and vermiculite/organic fertilizers. Should I be worried about these jumping guys? Thinking I might need to just be an indoor gardener 😭

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

@@sindirodriguez1030 don’t let them deter you. We deal with invasive species all the time. You are not likely to encounter them in container gardening.

[@dglemmer1]

This IS a very difficult topic to understand and to then translate into action in our own garden beds. While I ‘hear you’ and I think generally understand the gist of over amending, I’m not sure at the end of this, what I should be doing in my flower beds?

[@Blossomandbranch]

Watch our video two back about how to fix soil. :)

[@Blossomandbranch]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3_anZ-bpZx7f80si=U1VJXLk1yqFh9pDm

[@dglemmer1]

You’re so sweet to even reply! I did watch it when it came out - so guess I need to rewatch and see if I can get clear on all these practices! You are such a good teacher and I enjoy learning from you so much. I love love how you keep it real!

[@brandifons8632]

Is the "soil health assessment" on the Ward Labs website the Haney test? I couldn't find any tests on their site specifically mentioning it, but this is what I ordered. First year testing, so I'm excited to see the results.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes!

[@JubileeHomesteading]

Thank you for this! I've learned a lot from your videos. Would you please make a video on how to acidify soil fairly quickly? I got my soil test result today and although the nutrient profile and organic matter is excellent, the pH is currently at 7.3.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Unfortunately there’s no quick way to change PH! Good news is a 7.3 is absolutely fine for most things except those that really like acidic soil like blueberries.

[@JubileeHomesteading]

That's cheerful news! Thank you 💕

[@heathermendenhall5201]

I might have missed it in a previous video. What’s the best way to promote more fungi & microbes in soil? I love watching & learning from your videos!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Check the video linked in the description!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Wow. That's a deep dive.

[@The1eviltemptress]

Do you rotate crops and if so do you have a video on the matter?

[@hobo_fire]

Off-topic but I love your shirt! Great video as always, too.

[@jasonzoellner7547]

Beautiful and smart ❤

[@sc-dw6gt]

Thanks for the explanations! When we go to the websites that do the Haney soil tests, though (or any soil tests, really!), it is hard even to choose which of their test options to choose. Which of the offered Haney soil tests do you have done---not for specialty tests, but just as a starter, new-garden space, overview look at the soil you are dealing with?

[@Blossomandbranch]

We do ward labs, just the general soil health test! I’ll look it up if that doesn’t give you enough info!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

Have you looked at Korean natural farming? I bet it would be right up your alley.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes I’m all about the concept! I think it over complicates things a bit though and can confuse and overwhelm some folks! ❤️ but some of the recipes can be great for jump starting soil health!

[@cynthiaroberts9639]

So what do you do if you have too much Phosphorus? Is there a way to get that to lower?

[@fadedgreengirl]

Can you share the name of the lab you use for the Haney test?

[@Blossomandbranch]

We use ward labs :)

[@AnnaKincaid]

Mind blown, Plants poop!

[@Blossomandbranch]

🤣❤️