amending soil prior to laying sod

QuestionHI there! Thanks for taking my question. We recently had some trees removed from our yard and plan to lay sod. Prior to the trees being removed, there was a lot of moss and muddy areas that didnt see

Dying Blue Spruce

QuestionI have a Colorado Blue Spruce planted(3 years)in the corner of my yard (full sun) which is dying. Prior I lost another pine in the same spot over about a 3 year period. Twenty feet away I have pines do

Soil Acidity

QuestionI live on the South Shore of Long Island (Woodmere, New York) and am planning on growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and a few herbs in my garden. Without going through the trouble and expense of having my soil tes

soil/mulch issues

QuestionDear James, good afternoon, i have no idea what i am looking at and need an experts opinion, my husband and i planted our first rose gardens last year and incorporated other small flowers for a bordering ac

potting vs garden soil

QuestionI live in the hot,humid south. Last year I had a new problem. My hibiscus were partially uprooted by wind more than once. Same size plants, pots and soil(MiracleGro potting soil). Wou

Calibration

QuestionI have a (rapitest ph METER). How do I check to see if it is within tolerance of being calibraded correctly AnswerHi, Id pick up an inexpensive liquid or strip test kit from a local garden center and compar

humic acid

QuestionCan you tell me the expected reduction in fertilizer and water usage by amending soil with hugh quality humic acid, fulvic acid, and humins? Can any crop benefit from their use and is there

Clay in my soil

QuestionHi, Ive just moved to the Orkney Islands north of Scotland and I have a HUGE garden. All around me are farms and vegetable gardens and I want to grow veg. Never done it before but I think (through friends an

adding top soil

QuestionI added about 2-3 inches of top soil to my lawn without killing the old grass, which was spotty. What will happen if I didnt kill or remove the old grass first? AnswerHi John, Many grasses will grow through

wild cats in neighborhood

QuestionThe wild cats in the neighborhood are using my vegetable garden box as a liter box. Is the urine and waste toxic? Will it harm us to eat the vegetables grown there? What can I do? AnswerThe main conce

Indiana clay

QuestionQUESTION: We have about 3/4 acre of heavy clay that we would like to be grass. What can we do to the soil to make sure the new lawn we put in will work? ANSWER: Hi Scott, Till it to a depth of 6. Any

soil - type and amount

Question lawn Hello, I have had sewage and cribbing work done in my yard (last fall)and now want to add soil to the existing area - which was dug up to a depth of about 20 ft approximately. what type of soil should

Stunted growth in vegetable garden

QuestionQUESTION: My backyard is just a single slope, so for gardening we put in three raised terraces on the hill last year (16x4 area each). One of the three is filled with soil from our lot and things grow

Perlite

QuestionIm going to plant a garden here including 2 rows of Devil Claws. Should I put Perlite in the soil here and till it under and will a plowed garden compact as much as a unplowed garden? AnswerHi, I would not

Amount of material for raised beds?

QuestionHello! I have four raised beds that are 4 by 8 and 12 deep. Could you please tell me the best amount/ratio of soil and/or ammendments for these? They will all be for vegetables. They are completely empty rig

Soil with clay

QuestionQUESTION: For my birthday, my husband bought me a truckload of topsoil for my garden - flowers and vegetables. When he used some of it straight to fill holes in the grass where hed removed boulders, the soil

Too Much Peat-Moss?

QuestionHi Jim: I mixed peat-moss in with my soil and the water doesnt absorb very well, it sort of pools on top. I know you are a fan of pine bark, but I could only find pine mulch. Will this work? Th

poplars?

QuestionJames I live in western Canada. A few years ago I bought a newer home with a bad lawn,bordering on a busy highway with prevailing winds from the west and no breaks. I wanted a quick fix so I planted a row of

garden soil

QuestionI am building a small vegetable garden in my backyard and am planning on purchasing soil in bulk instead of in bags from the home improvement store. Is topsoil what I want to order or is there somethin

spike plants

Questionare spike plants acid loving or should i be using a lime to fertilize AnswerHi Joe, Most spike plants are just young Draceana marginata plants. They need a pH around 6. Youll need to check the p