I have a loamy/sandy soil in the garden borders which has become dusty
and
depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best
fertilizer to buy to
regenerate it and improve water retention? I was
thinking of well matured
manure.
--
GardenSW7
Posted by David Hare-Scott on March 17, 2010, 6:42 pm
GardenSW7 wrote:
> I have a loamy/sandy soil in the garden borders which has become dusty > and depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best > fertilizer to buy to regenerate it and improve water retention? I was > thinking of well matured manure.
Look for a cheap source of organic matter in your area. It may be manure,
spent mushroom compost, vegetable waste from local government collections,
stable bedding etc or a combination. Start your own compost heap. Grow a
green manure crop and turn it in. All of the above.
David
Posted by Billy on March 17, 2010, 7:48 pm
> GardenSW7 wrote: > > I have a loamy/sandy soil in the garden borders which has become dusty > > and depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best > > fertilizer to buy to regenerate it and improve water retention? I was > > thinking of well matured manure. > > Look for a cheap source of organic matter in your area. It may be manure, > spent mushroom compost, vegetable waste from local government collections, > stable bedding etc or a combination. Start your own compost heap. Grow a > green manure crop and turn it in. All of the above. > > David
Add some clay while your're at it. The charged surface of clay hangs on
to nutrients, and it impedes the flow of water.
30% - 40% sand, 30% - 40% silt, 20% - 30% clay is your target. Then add
10% - 15% by volume, compost or compostable material.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
>I have a loamy/sandy soil in the garden borders which has become dusty >and depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best >fertilizer to buy to regenerate it and improve water retention? I was >thinking of well matured manure.
Compost will improve water retention and add nutrients.
Posted by brooklyn1 on March 18, 2010, 6:59 pm
>I have a loamy/sandy soil in the garden borders which has become dusty >and depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best >fertilizer to buy to regenerate it and improve water retention? I was >thinking of well matured manure.
Adding manure, compost, and fertilizer to dust will only make things
worse, what you need is top soil.
> and depleted of nutrients. Any suggestions as regards the best
> fertilizer to buy to regenerate it and improve water retention? I was
> thinking of well matured manure.