If nothing else, throw some compost on your soil this fall and let winter do the work of mixing it in for you. But fall is a great time...

reBlogged to soil on Sep 10, 2008, 9:01PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-09-12, 06:03:40

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One part soil....two parts water.....and three parts wishful thinking !
unknown source

Read some more Thursday thoughts.

This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication only on my personal blog, The Gardener Side.

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Posted by Crafty Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to soil, whimsy on 2008-09-12, 05:56:19

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First off, it is soil not dirt. Got that? Dirt is what you track in on your shoes, soil is a living universe of microorganisms that supports all life on this planet. . . .

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Posted by WashingtonGardener Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-07-23, 05:59:37

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If you're eager to learn some facts about soil, then there's a good chance that you fall into the category of "committed gardener." People who garden only sporadically can't be...

reBlogged to soil on Jul 14, 2008, 1:30AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-07-15, 05:50:47

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When I taught school, back a lifetime ago, it seemed like I had just settled in to the rhythm of the school year. I knew what to expect from the kids, they knew what to expect form me ... we were humming along productively growing each day. When all of a sudden the principal said, "It's time to prepare the course catalog for next year." NEXT year? I'm barely starting THIS year !. .

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Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-07-12, 06:00:00

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I did get out with my camera. I do like the fact that I've got the transitional pH soil going on with this hydrangea. I really need to fertilize it with the rhododendron fertilizer next time to push it back to blue. I definitely do not want it to go all pink. And yes, that's all one bush. Yikes! It likes being pruned.

>

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Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea, soil on 2008-07-12, 05:56:30

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Before planting anything (perennials, vegetables, trees, shrubs, etc.), it's important to make sure the soil in the area is suitable, as each plant has specific pH requirements. Readings of 7.0 are neutral. Readings above 7.0 indicate alkaline soil. Those below 7.0 are acidic. Soil on Long Island is generally acidic, so many plants will require amendments such as lime to thrive.

Click photo for a step-by-step slideshow

Vegetables thrive best in soil with a pH of 6.2-6.8; Lawns prefer 6.3-6.7, but should do fine anywhere in the 6.0-7.0 range; herbs like it a bit more acidic, around 6.5.

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Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-06-06, 06:35:19

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Have you fed your soil food web lately? What? You didn't know you had a soil food web? If you have any plants in soil, you have a soil food web. This complex network of beneficial soil creatures from earthworms, centipedes and millipedes, down to tiny bacteria, fungi and protozoa, all need to be fed some form of organic matter every year. If you have not fed yours lately or ever, your soil food web is a sorry group of creatures. When they are fed each year, they will perform absolute miracles for your lawn, your trees and shrubs, and all your gardens. . . .

reBlogged to soil on May 13, 2008, 2:24PM

Posted by jeffball@usol.com (Jeff Ball) Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-05-14, 06:07:44

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Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-05-10, 05:21:32

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As water supplies around the world continue to feel the pinch of decreased winter snowfall and increased community needs, drought conditions will only become more frequent. In many parts of the country, as soon as a town or county declares a drought situation, you won’t be able to water your lawn. Unfortunately, your lawn will do very poorly without at least one inch of rain or water per week. That said, there are a number of things you can do to prepare your lawn for drought conditions. . . .

reBlogged to soil weather on May 5, 2008, 3:26AM

Posted by peach Reblogged by Old Roses to soil, weather on 2008-05-06, 06:57:30

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As water supplies around the world continue to feel the pinch of decreased winter snowfall and increased community needs, drought conditions will only become more frequent. In many parts of the country, as soon as a town or county declares a drought situation, you won’t be able to water your lawn. Unfortunately, your lawn will do very poorly without at least one inch of rain or water per week. That said, there are a number of things you can do to prepare your lawn for drought conditions. . . .

reBlogged to soil weather on May 5, 2008, 3:26AM

Posted by peach Reblogged by Old Roses to soil, weather on 2008-05-06, 06:57:30

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It's what every gardener wishes for: rich, dark, crumbly humus to plant in. Humus occurs naturally, of course. Picture the forest floor; a layer of fallen leaves covers rich dark...

reBlogged to soil on May 5, 2008, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-05-06, 06:56:03

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It's what every gardener wishes for: rich, dark, crumbly humus to plant in. Humus occurs naturally, of course. Picture the forest floor; a layer of fallen leaves covers rich dark...

reBlogged to soil on May 5, 2008, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-05-06, 06:56:03

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reBlogged to soil tools on Apr 15, 2008, 9:44PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil, tools on 2008-04-16, 06:08:34

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Here’s my take on one of the hottest gardening “solutions” being offered up to unsuspecting gardeners this season. An accident waiting to happen.

One of the biggest “solutions” being offered up by chemical gardening fans is the “environmentally-friendly” water absorbing chemicals. The premise is that you mix this material into your soil and it absorbs moisture. It then slowly releases this moisture for your plants. You have a way to fight off drought and water stress. . .

reBlogged to soil environment on Apr 13, 2008, 8:16AM

Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to environment, soil on 2008-04-16, 06:03:18

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I just mailed out my soil samples. Just so I remember: sample 1 is from the new plot adjacent to my house, sample 2 is from my old raised beds, sample 3 is from my new community garden plot. I think its likely the soil adjacent to my house will be contaminated with lead and I will need to abandon this plot. We'll see. The results should be back in 1-2 weeks.

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-04-16, 05:51:44

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Soil Improvement
The ideal soil in a water-conserving landscape does two things simultaneously: it drains quickly and stores water at the same time. This is achieved by increasing the amount of organic material in your soil and keeping it well aerated. Compost is the ideal organic additive, unless your xeriscape contains many succulents and cacti. These species prefer lean soil. . ..

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Posted by North Country Maturing Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-04-14, 18:28:02

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The allotment yesterday after I had finished for the day. It was Sunny between showers of rain, and strong winds.
I turned four beds over and wrecked my hands. Patience is hard to come by when you have many plants growing or seed potatoes chitting in the spare room. The clay soil was still boggy in places, and rainwater still pooling.I turned it over to try to dry it out a bit.. . .

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds, soil on 2008-04-04, 06:32:35

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When I was in high school, my mother handed me a mail order bulb catalog and told me I could pick something out to plant. (I guess I had done all right by the daffodils and she wanted to encourage me...

reBlogged to soil bulbs on Apr 1, 2008, 7:58PM

Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs, soil on 2008-04-03, 06:24:32

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Today is a lovely day with highs in the mid-fifties. I have a few of my windows open and have been enjoying listening to the birds. I sat outside on the patio for a little while and decided I was in the mood to work on a neighborhood project.

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Posted by Robin's Nesting Place Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-27, 18:06:01

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The new brambles I planted are thriving despite the pH level of the soil being too alkaline. The soil is supposed to be between 6.0 and 6.8, so I need to add sulfur, which will make the soil more acidic. If I wanted to make it even more alkaline, I'd add lime.

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Posted by ldybug Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-26, 18:08:34

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Today I'll try to get some soil collected and start preparing it to send out for a soil test. I've never tested the bed adjacent to the house. Its important to check it for lead, as well as nutrients I may need to adjust. . . .

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-25, 05:49:01

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Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-21, 06:29:23

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The top of our property is a little steep.



And rocky. . . .

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Posted by Rurality Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-21, 06:12:17

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For many “Spring” arrives in different ways. For some it’s the time change, others it’s the Azaleas starting to bloom… for me I’m just weird, I know it’s “Spring” from TV commercials. . . .

reBlogged to soil on Mar 20, 2008, 9:20AM

Posted by Plant Pro Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-21, 06:11:47

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Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-21, 06:04:20

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OMG - what a busy day we had. We went from a pile-o-soil at the street in the morning to getting our first plantings in by day's end.

For now, I'll let the pictures speak. I'll write more later to give a fuller update on our project.

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Posted by Darcy Reblogged by Old Roses to planting, soil on 2008-03-20, 18:23:52

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My macro lens catches a lot of details. Here's a zoom of my jeans and the gardening fork. I'm just sooo excited about my thawed soil.

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Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-16, 23:53:33

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On a whim, I brought my fork out to see how frozen the garden was. But, NO ICE! The soil is beautiful and very workable. I'm amazed. Maybe all of our snow cover kept the ground from freezing hard this year. Last year, it was frozen solid in mid March and I couldn't do anything until early April. Well, now I'm starting to think about pea seeds.... Hhmmm. Just a row or two. Planting peas by St Patrick's Day would be great.

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Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-16, 23:53:24

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As the ground starts to warm up, many of us are getting ready to plant out new vegetables, trees, and flowers, but some soil isn't as ideal as it could be, and drainage if often a problem.

If you have poor draining soil, this can hinder good aeration for plant roots, and plants can actually drown, so you'll want to take care of the problem as soon as possible. . . .

reBlogged to soil on Mar 12, 2008, 1:20PM

Posted by Hilary Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-14, 00:42:02

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There is nothing more reviving to a gardener (especially in the throes of late winter) as the smell of dirt. Many of us start our seeds WAY too early and I don’t think the reason for this is to be planting seeds. I am willing to bet it is the smell of dirt. We start seeds to early because we need the smell of dirt. . . .

reBlogged to soil on Mar 9, 2008, 8:21PM

Posted by Hanna Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-11, 00:07:02

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Work in 4 inches of organic matter. Top dress with 2-3 inches of manure. OK how many bags or pounds will it take to cover my garden...

reBlogged to soil on Mar 3, 2008, 8:01PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-04, 18:02:59

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Ruth Bancroft answers questions about cactus soil. . . .

reBlogged to soil on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-03-01, 19:13:31

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How do I change the pH in my soil to change the color of my hydrangeas? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to soil hydrangeas on Feb 25, 2008, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangeas, soil on 2008-02-27, 18:04:50

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reBlogged to seeds soil tools

Posted by Colleen Vanderlinden (nospam@example.com) Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds, soil, tools on 2008-02-06, 07:01:36

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Learn how to create a healthy, living soil has everything plants need to thrive.

reBlogged to soil on Jan 31, 2008, 2:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-01-30, 06:06:25

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reBlogged to soil on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2008-01-16, 18:15:03

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Starting plants from seed is a lot of fun, but itÂ’s not so much fun to watch them wither and die shortly after germination. (Trust me.) One way...

reBlogged to soil seeds on Dec 27, 2007, 8:15PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds, soil on 2007-12-28, 20:42:18

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I've heard that turning soil in your garden at night might be a way to control weeds. Is this true? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to soil weeds on Nov 30, 2007, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to soil, weeds on 2007-12-02, 00:35:59

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reBlogged to books soil

Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to books, soil on 2007-11-28, 00:31:42

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Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to books, soil on 2007-11-28, 00:29:35

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After turning to a complete sissy yesterday over the frozen, hard-to-handle bags of topsoil, I came home and ordered 1.5 yards of topsoil from the garden center near my house. The truck was here within the hour! Now that's what I call service!. . .

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Posted by Gina Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2007-11-26, 00:29:03

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We’ve just been discussing potted plants on A Spot With Pots and I thought rather than leave a very long comment I would post about it here instead. I’ve talked about this before in a post a few months ago, and other bloggers have certainly discussed this too. . . .

reBlogged to soil on Nov 24, 2007, 9:51AM

Posted by Patrick Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2007-11-25, 00:50:57

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Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2007-11-13, 06:28:08

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I dusted my lawn with peat moss to help build the soil. Now I have lots of mushrooms coming up all over. How can I get rid of them? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to soil fungi on Nov 7, 2007, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to fungi, soil on 2007-11-09, 00:33:30

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Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2007-11-06, 00:31:20

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Please tell me about ashes from a wood-burning fireplace. How much can I use in the garden? Are they good for blueberry bushes and asparagus? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to soil on Nov 2, 2007, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to soil on 2007-11-04, 00:32:39

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