Gardening How-To: Soil Amendments

Watch Carol O'Meara explain how to enrich Colorado's alkaline soils with soil amendments such as peat moss and compost.

This article is a summary of a YouTube video "Gardening How-To: Soil Amendments" by Blossom Flower Delivery

Key insights about video Gardening How-To: Soil Amendments

🌱 Carol O'Meara is a horticulture entomologist with Colorado State University Extension, providing guidance on preparing gardens for planting.

🌼 Soil preparation, including adding organic material, is emphasized as a crucial step for good plant health in new and existing gardens.

💧 Brand-new gardens likely lack organic material and require the addition of a couple of inches tilled into the soil to improve organic matter levels.

📈 Mature garden soils, present for several years, are likely to have closer to the recommended 4-5% organic material content and improve with age.

⚒️ The video busts common myths in Colorado gardening, advising against unnecessary amendments like gypsum and epsom salts that are already abundant in local soils.

🌿 Organic materials are suggested as the best soil amendments, with peat moss and plant-based compost recommended for their water and nutrient retention abilities.

💩 Animal manures, particularly from herbivores such as horses, cows, and chickens, are highlighted as excellent, nutrient-rich soil amendments when well-aged to avoid E. coli contamination.

🛑 Caution is advised against using manures from carnivorous pets due to the risk of parasites and other issues.

📏 For young gardens, a two-inch layer of compost should be added and tilled in, with repeat additions in subsequent seasons, to gradually build up soil quality.

🚫 Over-addition of organic material at once is discouraged to prevent soluble salts buildup, potentially harming plants. Regular tilling to integrate amendments to root depth is suggested for optimal plant growth.

Timestamped Summary

00:00 Introduction by Carol O'Meara, a horticulture entomologist with Colorado State University Extension.

00:12 Emphasis on the importance of preparing soil as the foundation for good plant health.

00:26 Description of how to amend soil for new gardens lacking organic material.

00:34 Advice for improving soil in older gardens with more mature soil.

01:09 Discussion of soil amendments and the confusion surrounding their use.

01:42 Debunking the myth of needing gypsum in Colorado soils.

02:40 Explanation of why Epsom salts are unnecessary in Colorado.

03:29 Focus on adding organic material to Colorado soils for improving soil structure and health.

04:01 Details on the benefits of using peat moss as a slightly acidic soil amendment.

04:33 Recommendation to use compost, a renewable resource, to enrich garden soil.

05:32 Discussion on the advantages of using aged animal manures as a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

06:08 Warning on ensuring animal manures are aged properly to avoid E. coli contamination.

07:46 Instructions on how to add amendments to the soil, differentiating between young and older gardens.

08:45 Caution against adding too many amendments at once due to the risk of soluble salts buildup.

09:03 Demonstration on how to incorporate amendments by turning them into the soil with a shovel. This summary captures the key points about preparing garden soil and the use of amendments, with specific advice customized for Colorado's soil conditions.

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Q&A

Who is Carol O'Meara?

Carol O'Meara is a horticulture entomologist with Colorado State University Extension in Boulder County.

What should you do if your garden is brand-new?

If your garden is brand-new, you should add a couple of inches of organic material across the surface and then till it in to get the organic matter levels up to where you want them to be.

What should you consider if your garden has been in place for more than four years?

If your garden has been in place for more than four years, you are dealing with a more mature garden soil that is probably closer to the four to five percent organic material desired in a garden soil.

Why is gypsum not recommended for Colorado soils?

Adding gypsum, which is calcium sulfate, is not recommended for Colorado soils because the area already has plenty of gypsum; hence, it would be a waste of time and money to add more.

Why is it unnecessary to add Epsom salts to soils in Colorado?

Adding Epsom salts, which is magnesium sulfate, isn't beneficial in Colorado because the state has alkaline soils with plenty of magnesium, and the soil pH does not affect plant magnesium uptake.

What is the recommended soil amendment in Colorado?

The recommended soil amendment in Colorado is organic material, which helps to break up clay soils, holds onto water, and retains nutrients without becoming heavy.

Why is it important to use aged animal manures in the garden?

It's important to use aged animal manures, aged four months or longer, in the garden to avoid introducing E. coli and other harmful bacteria from fresh manures to your plants.