View Full Version : Advantages of not relying on fertilizers
PR-Giants
12-28-2014, 10:17 AM
Using an excess of compost / organic material instead of fertilizers, can substantially reduce the time from plant to bloom.
This FHIA-3 should have bloomed at 9 to 10 months in Puerto Rico, but unexpectedly shot 200 days after planting a small tissue culture.
Plants grow faster, larger, produce heavier bunches and have more flavorful fruit by using copious amounts of compost.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57131 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57131)
Some more examples...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57175 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57175)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57091 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57091)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56727 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56727)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56525 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56525)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57136 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57136)
Worm_Farmer
12-28-2014, 05:16 PM
Also, I have found that not using Fertilizer this year I didnt have to prop up anyone my plants this year. They were all strong enough to hold their own weight!
cincinnana
12-28-2014, 08:49 PM
[QUOTE=PR-Giants;255167]Using an excess of compost / organic material instead of fertilizers, can substantially reduce the time from plant to bloom.
Plants grow faster, larger, produce heavier bunches and have more flavorful fruit by using copious amounts of compost.
I have to have my organics trucked in ...my yard does not produce enough compost, plus it only produces it 120 days of the year.
Your fortunate with the resources that you have available to you.
I am working on bigger bunches this year....this year maybe five fingers.
How do the variegated plants like it.. are you able to post a photo....?
raygrogan
12-28-2014, 08:55 PM
Wow, that is a very healthy looking plant and fabulous timing! So what is your "recipe" from the beginning? Dig a hole, .... then what? How much compost, where does it go (in the hole, on the surface?), and how long to the next application, etc.? Thanks for taking us to the next level!
I only use chicken manure for my bananas no commercial fertilizers. I like to go as natural as possible and my Ice Cream banana rewarded me with a bloom this month. All my bananas are kept in containers all year long because I live in WA state where we have cold and wet winters. If I knew how to post a pic I would all my pictures are in Picassa on my computer.
Sib
a.hulva@coxinet.net
12-28-2014, 11:11 PM
Using an excess of compost / organic material instead of fertilizers, can substantially reduce the time from plant to bloom.
This FHIA-3 should have bloomed at 9 to 10 months in Puerto Rico, but unexpectedly shot 5.5 months after planting a small tissue culture.
Plants grow faster, larger, produce heavier bunches and have more flavorful fruit by using copious amounts of compost.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57131 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57131)
Sounds good! I have an old compost pile that has been cooking for years. When on the Amazon in Brazil I noticed all native homes and villages had Bananas all over the place. The the soil in the forest floor felt like a mattress, soft and approx. a foot thick with decomposing leaves etc. Thanks for the post.
Al
servatusprime
12-29-2014, 05:27 PM
PR-Giants has shown several times in the past great results from using grass clippings. I now make it a standard practice to bag all my clippings and dump it on my mats. Great fertilizer and helps keep the weeds down.
Looking great!
PR-Giant, you grow commercially?
PR-Giants
01-01-2015, 07:37 PM
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57126 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57126)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57127 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57150&size=big)
"The banana was grown with 30, 40, 50 and 60 litres of human urine application with irrigation water along with graded levels of commercial potassium fertilizers. Application of 50 litres of human urine per plant with 75% recommended commercial potassium fertilizer recorded 32.1% more plant height, 25.6% more pseudostem girth, 71.5% more number of leaves and 68.8% more leaf area, 25% more leaf nitrogen concentration, 52.6% more phosphorus concentration and 6.5% more leaf potassium than normally grown banana plants without urine application."
Banana Research (http://www.scopetrichy.com/banana_research.php)
Bangalore Urine-treated Plants Yield Bigger Bananas Study (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=47074&n_tit=Bangalore%3A+Urine-treated+Plants+Yield+Bigger+Bananas%3A+Study)
PR-Giants
01-01-2015, 07:40 PM
208 days from planting to bloom.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57128 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57128)
Rmplmnz
01-02-2015, 03:08 PM
Creating the forest floor is the key!!
PR-Giants
01-02-2015, 04:22 PM
Creating the forest floor is the key!!
Do you have millipedes in Tampa?
If "yes", few or many?
Millipedes make growing bananas easy.
http://www.bananas.org/f312/millicompost-19943-2.html
Rmplmnz
01-03-2015, 09:51 AM
Do you have millipedes in Tampa?
If "yes", few or many?
Millipedes make growing bananas easy.
http://www.bananas.org/f312/millicompost-19943-2.html
Hmmnn..not sure I do not recall ever seeing one in Tampa. So I would say few.
We do add tons of organic matter to the garden every year, as noted in this post:
The best fertilizer I ever used was 1,000 pounds of Shrimp Shells (I got for free from a local Shrimp processing plant)...the Sabas were 5 feet in Circumference and over 25 feet tall (I used to have the pics posted; but deleted them for personal reasons). Massive!....then I layered horse poo on top.
Following is a repeat of a post on another thread:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/praying-hands-jumbo-leaves-11912-2.html#post135487
We focus on creating the "Forest Floor"...I have been in the same house for 21 years and growing bananas for over 40 years.....I have never used chemical fertilizers (and I am not knowledgeable enough on this topic to debate those that do..just stating my experience)....I have had some trial and error....one time I was sitting in the back yard and it was like someone came through with a saw and cut everything down...I had added too much horse manure too close to the mattes and everything just fell over..."Live and Learn"
We add about 5 tons of leaves a year
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34392&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34392)
5 tons of tree mulch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34390&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34390)
5 tons of horse manure a year
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34391&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34391)
and that is the bulk of it
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34389&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34389)
..sorta speak:nanadrink:
And "We" keep the rodent population in check:
Squirrel Patrol:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34393&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34393)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34394&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34394)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34396&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34396)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34395&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34395)
Rat Patrol:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34397&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34397)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34401&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34401)
Mosquito Control:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34441&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34441)
Bug Control:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34443&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34443)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34444&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34444)
Lil' help from Mrs. Rmplmnz
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34400&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34400)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34399&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34399)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34398&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34398)
Check out Gene Joyner's Forrest Floor:
In 1992 I visited Gene Joyner’s Unbelievable Acres. Gene had a location for tree services to drop loads (with a big sign “No Black Olive Mulch”.
Unbelievable Acres Botanic Gardens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbelievable_Acres_Botanic_Gardens)
Check out this video:
SeeThrough Tree Gene Joyner Unbelievable Acres Palm Beach Rare Fruit Council - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFICaCJD3uY)
Gene Joyner Unbelievable Acres Rare Fruit Council - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI7kkbQz8D8)
A Botanical Hidden Gem: Gene Joyner's Unbelievable Acres
If you're in West Palm Beach and craving a relaxing afternoon walk through a quiet, secluded botanical rainforest, then Gene Joyner's Unbelievable Acres Botanic Garden is for you. Located at 470 63rd Trail North, this private, non-profit, man-made reproduction of a rainforest is a wonderfully "hands on" way to learn about and experience a real rainforest.
Gene Joyner began the Garden from an empty pasture containing only two pine trees and all plants currently seen in Unbelievable Acres were planted since July, 1970. No trees were over 6 feet tall when first planted and Gene personally wheelbarrows in mulch and new plant specimens because the paths are too narrow for a tractor. You can sense and appreciate this personal touch as your guide describes the natural wonders found here, Unbelievable Acres is truly an accomplishment.
During the tour our friendly guide pointed out countless species of plants, trees and fruits while sharing a sometimes amusing history of them along with ways some species can be used in food preparation. Praying bananas trees, angel trumpets, sausage trees, starfruit… the sights and smells are sure to please the senses. If you are interested in a rainforest experience where you can nibble on lemony hibiscus flowers or spicy allspice leaves while taking in the beauty and wonder of nature, Unbelievable Acres is the place to go.
The tour runs every second Saturday of the month in groups of ten and the cost per person is $10. For more information please call 561-242-1686.
A Botanical Hidden Gem: Gene Joyner's Unbelievable Acres - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com (http://voices.yahoo.com/a-botanical-hidden-gem-gene-joyners-unbelievable-acres-11978479.html?cat=8)
PR-Giants
01-03-2015, 02:40 PM
We focus on creating the "Forest Floor"...
This is the second time you used that term in this thread.
What you're saying is contradictory to what I think you're trying to say (mulch), but if I'm wrong please correct me. "Forest Floors" are actually some of the worst soils on earth and the term is often used as a marketing gimmick. Grassland "Floors" make some great soils, forests do not, and Tropical Rainforests (which I have) are even worse.
servatusprime
01-03-2015, 03:55 PM
Mulch, mulch, and more mulch! That's the floor of his forest. An excellent garden to go see in person. I think the term is being applied losely here. Most people just toss some mulch in a fairly neat clump in a garden bed. In this case it's spread out every where.
Worm_Farmer
01-03-2015, 06:59 PM
I wish I could still get manure by the turck load like that.
I wish I could still get manure by the turck load like that.
I think if I got a load of Manure, I would probably be violating a City Ordinance. My Neighbors give me the evil eye when I get a truck load of straw for my bananas.:nanadrink:
Rmplmnz
01-04-2015, 10:51 AM
I think if I got a load of Manure, I would probably be violating a City Ordinance. My Neighbors give me the evil eye when I get a truck load of straw for my bananas.:nanadrink:
Does not smell much if any (usually the Horse Manure we get has been sitting for a while and is well along the composting path). It is mixed with sawdust from the stable and we typically cover it with mulch (we get for free from local tree services).
I wish I could still get manure by the turck load like that.
Fortunately we live 2 miles (5 minutes) from the stable. This compares to hauling it to a composting site 45 minutes away. Unfortunately they stopped the free delivery. We can take our truck to the stable and they will load for free (way less poop).
That's great. I should see if I can find a contact close to my house. My Banana Plants would probably like a mixture of the straw and poop. :0519:
Rmplmnz
01-04-2015, 11:47 AM
This is the second time you used that term in this thread.
What you're saying is contradictory to what I think you're trying to say (mulch), but if I'm wrong please correct me. "Forest Floors" are actually some of the worst soils on earth and the term is often used as a marketing gimmick. Grassland "Floors" make some great soils, forests do not, and Tropical Rainforests (which I have) are even worse.
I did not realize I was limited to using a term once within a thread? In any case I can delete the posts if you feel they are not adding value to the thread. Whatever you are doing keep doing, your pictures and posts are amazing!
I disagree with your statement ""Forest Floors" are actually some of the worst soils on earth and the term is often used as a marketing gimmick. "
We love our forest floor!
I understand the term and we go way beyond "mulch" (leaves, coffee grounds by the bucket, newspapers, horse poo).
The forest floor, also called detritus, duff and the O horizon, is one of the most distinctive features of a forest ecosystem. It mainly consists of shed vegetative parts, such as leaves, branches, bark, and stems, existing in various stages of decomposition above the soil surface. Although principally composed of nonliving organic material, the forest floor also teems with a wide variety of fauna and flora. It is one of the richest components of the ecosystem from the standpoint of biodiversity because of the large number of decomposers and predators present, mostly belonging to invertebrates, fungi, algae, bacteria, and archaea. The major compartments for the storage of organic matter and nutrients within systems are the living vegetation, forest floor, and soil. The forest floor serves as a bridge between the above ground living vegetation and the soil, and it is a crucial component in nutrient transfer through the biogeochemical cycle. Much of the energy and carbon fixed by forests is periodically added to the forest floor through litterfall, and a substantial portion of the nutrient requirements of forest ecosystems is supplied by decomposition of organic matter in the forest floor and soil surface. The sustained productivity of forests is closely linked with the decomposition of shed plant parts, particularly the nutrient-rich foliage. The forest floor is also an important fuel source in forest fires.
The amount of material in the forest floor depends on the balance between inputs from litter production and outputs from decomposition, and amounts also reflect the site's disturbance history. Both litter production and decomposition are functions of the site (e.g., wet versus dry; cold versus warm; nutrient rich versus nutrient poor) and the vegetation that occupies the site (e.g., conifer versus broadleaf). A site's forest floor is determined by its areal weight, depth, and nutrient content. Typically, forest floors are heaviest and deepest in boreal forests and mountain forests where decomposition rates are slow. In contrast, the lightest and thinnest forest floors usually occur in tropical rain forests where decomposition rates are rapid, except on white sands where nutrients could not be supplied from mineral weathering.
Forest floor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_floor)
PR-Giants
01-04-2015, 02:00 PM
In any case I can delete the posts if you feel they are not adding value to the thread.
I wish you would post more often.
I disagree with your statement ""Forest Floors" are actually some of the worst soils on earth and the term is often used as a marketing gimmick. "
Maybe I'm wrong, but that was what I was taught as a child growing up on a farm in the 1960's.
I just did a search and this was on top of the page, but I'll read some other ones later.
Soil (http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/Soil.html)
The Tropical Rain Forest
The lushness of the jungle biome is somewhat illusory. While productivity is high, the soils themselves tend to be of very poor quality. Because of the high rainfall, nutrients are quickly washed out of the topsoil unless they are incorporated in the forest plants. As plant and animal debris falls to the ground, it is quickly decomposed because of the warmth and moisture there. Thus minerals are found mainly in the forest plants, not in the soil. When the plants are removed and cultivation attempted, the soils quickly lose fertility.
The situation is made worse by the lack of humus (the topsoil may be no thicker than 2 in. [= 5 cm]) and the high iron and aluminum content of most of these soils. Once exposed to the sun, these lateritic soils soon bake into a bricklike material that cannot be cultivated.
The Temperate Deciduous Forest
These regions receive 75–100 cm or more of precipitation each year. Enough water falls on the soil so that much of it passes down to the water table. As it does so, it carries minerals with it. Such soils tend to be acidic and of low and (if unattended) diminishing fertility. Only by regular fertilization and liming (to restore calcium and raise pH) can productive agriculture be carried out in them. In the U.S., the soils east of the Appalachian Mountains tend to be of this sort.
Rmplmnz
01-04-2015, 03:16 PM
I wish you would post more often.
Maybe I'm wrong, but that was what I was taught as a child growing up on a farm in the 1960's.
I just did a search and this was on top of the page, but I'll read some other ones later.
Soil (http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/Soil.html)
The Tropical Rain Forest
The lushness of the jungle biome is somewhat illusory. While productivity is high, the soils themselves tend to be of very poor quality. Because of the high rainfall, nutrients are quickly washed out of the topsoil unless they are incorporated in the forest plants. As plant and animal debris falls to the ground, it is quickly decomposed because of the warmth and moisture there. Thus minerals are found mainly in the forest plants, not in the soil. When the plants are removed and cultivation attempted, the soils quickly lose fertility.
The situation is made worse by the lack of humus (the topsoil may be no thicker than 2 in. [= 5 cm]) and the high iron and aluminum content of most of these soils. Once exposed to the sun, these lateritic soils soon bake into a bricklike material that cannot be cultivated.
The Temperate Deciduous Forest
These regions receive 75–100 cm or more of precipitation each year. Enough water falls on the soil so that much of it passes down to the water table. As it does so, it carries minerals with it. Such soils tend to be acidic and of low and (if unattended) diminishing fertility. Only by regular fertilization and liming (to restore calcium and raise pH) can productive agriculture be carried out in them. In the U.S., the soils east of the Appalachian Mountains tend to be of this sort.
Thanks, that is high praise coming from you! I am amazed by your pics. A friend once told me "You have a maintenance free yard". I can only only speculate that this is because we do not have any grass...lol.
I totally get your reference to growing up and the soils having low fertility. I guess the big difference for us is the amount of leaves we bring in (literally over 2 tons a year). Someone once told me the leaves are nutrient dense as they pull from deep in the roots/soil. Additionally, they degrade very slowly. I thought it was funny within the forest floor definition there was reference to fungi. There is always some strange mushroom/fungi popping up in the garden.
I will look for a "before pic" of the garden (sandy mess) and append this post later.
merce3
01-05-2015, 06:15 AM
you learn something new everyday. i always thought plants struggled in rain forests because of the competition for sunlight. i appreciate the quality posts
Rmplmnz
01-05-2015, 09:47 AM
you learn something new everyday. i always thought plants struggled in rain forests because of the competition for sunlight. i appreciate the quality posts
Rain forests are very dense multi layered complex ecosystems. Our garden is more like organized chaos...lol..as you well recall from your visits:-)
PR-Giants
01-05-2015, 10:29 AM
A taker one minute, a giver the next.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57115 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57115)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57113 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57113)
PR-Giants
01-05-2015, 10:45 AM
Will be feeding some Dwarf Cubans later today.
Added at the end of the biochar process, these receptacles will turn to a powder in seconds.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57114 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57114)
A taker one minute, a giver the next.
Until what stage of the bunch do you take pups out?
Rmplmnz
01-05-2015, 12:06 PM
That is some impressive looking "rich dark" soil you have!
merce3
01-05-2015, 09:34 PM
Rain forests are very dense multi layered complex ecosystems. Our garden is more like organized chaos...lol..as you well recall from your visits:-)
oh yeah... i honestly don't know how you do it. i can barely move 5 cu yards of mulch in a week/two let alone all of the amendments you have going into your garden. i am trying to diversify though. one day...
PR-Giants
01-06-2015, 07:46 PM
That is some impressive looking "rich dark" soil you have!
The "rich dark" looking stuff in that pot are milli-turds.
They crap faster than my bananas can eat, and that makes growing easy.
The thousands of little ovals are fresh milli-turds.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57109 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57109)
PR-Giants
01-06-2015, 07:55 PM
you learn something new everyday. i always thought plants struggled in rain forests because of the competition for sunlight. i appreciate the quality posts
I see the differences thousands of times a day, but these photos might make it easier for some to understand.
My farm is terraced into the side of a mountain and the soil levels are visible.
These 3 photos are all on the same terrace and within 10 meters of the "jungles edge" photo.
Grassland soil, 10 meters from the jungles edge.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57111 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57111)
Jungles edge.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57108 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57108)
10 meters into the jungle.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57110 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57110)
I see the differences thousands of times a day, but these photos might make it easier for some to understand.
My farm is terraced into the side of a mountain and the soil levels are visible.
These 3 photos are all on the same terrace and within 10 meters of the "jungles edge" photo.
Grassland soil, 10 meters from the jungles edge.
You were not even toning it down! you are indeed growing on rock!
PR-Giants
01-08-2015, 12:52 PM
You were not even toning it down! you are indeed growing on rock!
With reality this difficult there's no need to embellish.
Favorite digging tools.... a Hilti and a generator.
Rmplmnz
02-02-2015, 10:32 PM
Rain forests are very dense multi layered complex ecosystems. Our garden is more like organized chaos...lol..as you well recall from your visits:-)
Ok, I dug out some old pics...
Before forest floor December 2005
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/15809959614/player/" width="1024" height="768" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
After August 2008 (32 months later)
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/15812424853/player/" width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
a.hulva@coxinet.net
02-03-2015, 12:26 AM
Ok, I dug out some old pics...
Before forest floor December 2005
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/15809959614/player/" width="1024" height="768" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
After August 2008 (32 months later)
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/30691721@N03/15812424853/player/" width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> Thanks Rmp. Your stuff always looks good.
Looks like very sandy soil? As I have a real red, heavy clay soil. I recently bought a truck load of a very course sand spaded it in as deep as I could and then tilled it as deep as I could. Hopefully this well help out with the clay situation. I plan to put a pretty heavy layer of wood chips over the intire bed.
Any clue what the ideal PH should be for Bananas?
Rmplmnz
02-03-2015, 10:42 AM
Thanks Rmp. Your stuff always looks good.
Looks like very sandy soil? As I have a real red, heavy clay soil. I recently bought a truck load of a very course sand spaded it in as deep as I could and then tilled it as deep as I could. Hopefully this well help out with the clay situation. I plan to put a pretty heavy layer of wood chips over the intire bed.
Any clue what the ideal PH should be for Bananas?
Al,
You are correct, heavy layers of sand, then clay then limestone (6 or more feet down). Not sure on PH, we just keep layering and layering!
merce3
02-03-2015, 06:29 PM
my new must haves for receiving mulch: a large tarp and a snow shovel. i took down 5 yards in a couple of hours yesterday. now i'm ready for another batch.
servatusprime
02-03-2015, 07:09 PM
my new must haves for receiving mulch: a large tarp and a snow shovel. i took down 5 yards in a couple of hours yesterday. now i'm ready for another batch.
A snow shovel in Florida! Love it. Where do even by one around here? That could be handy when I get several yards dumped at my house (i wish it was free).
PR-Giants
02-04-2015, 06:51 AM
A snow shovel in Florida! Love it. Where do even by one around here? That could be handy when I get several yards dumped at my house (i wish it was free).
Look online at Ace or Sears for a barn shovel/grain scoop.
https://www.google.com/search?q=barn+shovel+grain+scoop&biw=1093&bih=514&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QQfSVIaKHZHUgwSg0IP4Ag&ved=0CEIQsAQ
servatusprime
02-04-2015, 07:34 AM
Look online at Ace or Sears for a barn shovel/grain scoop.
https://www.google.com/search?q=barn+shovel+grain+scoop&biw=1093&bih=514&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QQfSVIaKHZHUgwSg0IP4Ag&ved=0CEIQsAQ
Good idea. Thanks.
cincinnana
02-04-2015, 10:01 AM
my new must haves for receiving mulch: a large tarp and a snow shovel. i took down 5 yards in a couple of hours yesterday. now i'm ready for another batch.:woohoonaner:
Thats all I use to move my mulch . I have the aluminum and rigid plastic kind.
I have found that the plastic kind does not make as much scraping noise on the driveway in the early morning when I start as the sun comes up.
You get nice heavy scoops and the shovel weighs almost nothing and it get close to the ground.:08:
However I still use fertilizers with the wood chip/leaf soil supplement, I can't get away from that. :08:
merce3
02-04-2015, 08:38 PM
Look online at Ace or Sears for a barn shovel/grain scoop.
https://www.google.com/search?q=barn+shovel+grain+scoop&biw=1093&bih=514&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QQfSVIaKHZHUgwSg0IP4Ag&ved=0CEIQsAQ
Good idea. Thanks.
The big box stores also carry them around here. my neighbor actually recommended it when he saw me struggling. he had one laying around from up north.
PR-Giants
02-05-2015, 08:32 AM
The big box stores also carry them around here. my neighbor actually recommended it when he saw me struggling. he had one laying around from up north.
Ace & Sears normally have better quality and discounted prices when you shop online & pick-up at the store.
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