Soil for the garden

[bacpacker]

In Tennesse, we have a county agricultural extension office that is a great deal of help. Not sure about your area.

[robsdak]

In Tennesse, we have a county agricultural extension office that is a great deal of help. Not sure about your area.

same here. it's $12 to have it tested. cheap price in the scope of things...

[Socalman]

One thing you should have is a compost pile. Mine is made from 4 old pallets. Leaves, grass trimmings, egg shells and vegetable kitchen trimmings and coffee grounds go into ours. Each year I take a section of the garden and work compost into the top 10-12 inches of dirt. However sometimes there are just too many rocks to dig it in deep enough.

At one time I was able to get some loads of horse manure to add to my pile, but I no longer have a truck to haul it and I am not putting that s--t in my car! Manure from horse or cow will certainly help your pile break down faster.

[realist]

One thing you might check is a local nursery. Around our area they will conduct general tests on you soil for free. They are looking at bringing in people and make sales. It is a nice marketing gimmick.

[ak474u]

We didn't need a soil test, ours is red clay, brown clay, and an inch or so of sorry topsoil. All of our beds are raised and I've brought in soil by the ton in bags. Lots of manure compost, peat humus, bagged potting soil, regular compost, growers mix compost, and our compost bins. One bin is grass clippings, dirt from the yard, and last years garden plants cut up and piled in. I've got to till the big one with my cultivator attachment so I can mix it up and add some good stuff. I don't use that compost for the garden, we have a large tumbler for that, and it's getting all the good stuff.