Question
What is the name of his book that you refer to?
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Great...I knew I'd be able to count on you.  

After I use what I'm going to from the brew after the 2 weeks, how long can I keep the unused portion of the compost and water (the undiluted one)?  Also, does it need to brew in a specific environment or will leaving it in my garage be ok?

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hey Charlotte, I hope you would be able to answer this.  I have 2 trees that were planted in my front yard that are Live Oak trees.  They seem to have grown maybe 1/8" in the last 2 1/2 yrs that I've been in the house.  I began practicing the organic lawn care (which seems to be working so great by the way - thanks), so i don't want to use any chemicals on the trees.  What can I do to boost their growth?
Answer -
Hi Sue.
Howard Garrett says compost tea.
He is Texas' resident organic guru.
Here is the recipe fr organic Compost Tea.
You start with manure based compost

      Manure compost tea

Here's how to make compost tea at home. Use any container but a plastic bucket is easy for the homeowner. Fill the 5-15 gallon bucket half full of compost and finish filling with water. Let the mix sit for 10-14 days and then dilute and spray on the foliage of any and all plants including fruit trees, perennials, annuals, vegetables and roses, and other plants, especially those that are regularly attacked by insects or fungal pests. It's very effective for example on black spot on roses and early blight on tomatoes. How to dilute the dark compost tea before using depends on the compost used. A rule of thumb is to dilute the leachate down to one part compost liquid to four to ten parts water. It should look like iced tea. Be sure to strain the solids out with old pantyhose, cheese cloth, or row cover material. Add two tablespoons of molasses to each gallon of spray for more power.

Live Oak trees are slow growing because ALL longer lived trees grow a little slower.
If you use an organic fertilizer on your lawn, just make another circle aroud the trees to give them a little more of it.
shrubs and trees take about 3 years to establich themselves with a good root system and start reallly growing faster, so be a little more patient, in a couple of years, their growth will take off more and you will see better growth results each year.
Charlotte







Answer -
Hi Sue;
I don't think you are going to want to keep it in the garage. Probably you will want to keep it upwind of the house. It has a manure based compost bast. That ain't goin to smell like perfume. not one that you would want to wear, anyway.LOL
I would use all of it as soon as it is made.
You can use it on other plants and flowes and even dilute it down enough to give the whole lawn a feeding. It is as good for grass as the other things.
I have never used compost, simply because my lot is small. It is only 65X140.
I don't want my neighbors to come at me with tar and feathers.
I made some alfalfa tea by his recipe, and last night I fed it to my roses, and shrubs. got some more brewing now.
It will not boost as much as the compost tea for roots, and roots are what you need to boost the tree growth. The tree will grow in direct proportion to the root system.
But, if you are wanting to boost the tree growth faster, the compost tea may be the way to go.
The longer lived the tree, the slower it grows. That is just the rule of thumb.
Some people plant maples, mulberries etc because they grow faster, but they have their drawbacks too.
The roots of those trees tend to come up to the surface and eventually, in not too long a time, come on top of the ground, and they say all the nourishment out of grass, shrubs and everything. NOTHING is going to grow very close up to those shallow roots.
That recipe is for a 15 gallon bucket.
You can make a smaller amount.
Just fill a container half full of compost, and finish filling with water, and you have the same recipe, just less of it.
Since yu can use it for so many plants, if you dilute down even a 15 gallon container full, you are going to be able to use it all, probably.
Or, share with a friend.
LOL. I just got a picture of that. GREAT present.poop tea. LOL
Charlotte

Answer
Hi Sue;
Here is a list of the books. I copied it from his site  www.dirtdoctor.org



Texas Gardening -The Natural Way
The Complete Handbook

The Organic Manual,
Natural Gardening
for the 21st Century

Plants For Texas

Plants of the Metroplex

Texas Bug Book

Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening

Herbs for Texas

Texas Trees

The Dirt Doctor's Guide
to Organic Gardening

Dear Dirt Doctor

Howard Garrett's
Texas Organic Gardening

The first one Texas Gardening the Natural Way, the complete handbook is the one i just bought.