Q: I have access to composted cow manure. I’ve ammended my vegetable garden with tons of the stuff and the soil is excellent. Can I use this same compost behind a stone wall in a new flower bed, 20 inches deep, as the ONLY soil?

A: Theoretically you could plant in pure compost. But drainage would be an issue since pure organic matter holds so much water.

You’d also want to keep an eye on soluble salts with pure composted manure – they could burn the plant roots.

Take a sample to an Extension office (404-897-6261) and have it tested for soluble salts.