Show Date: 26 Apr 10
Got dirt?  Then get a soil test! 

How to sample for a soil test [University of MN]

The U of MN offers the most comprehensive test you can get and they tell you HOW to amend your soil.

Here are a few items you can compost that you might NOT have thought of:

• vacuum and dryer lint (perhaps belly lint too!)
• wool and cotton remnants
• pet fur
• coffee grounds AND the filters

The reason you NEVER put meat or animal byproducts in a compost is the smell attracts rodents and insects which can carry disease. 

Show Date: 29 Mar 10 
You mean there’s a choice? YUP!

Loam soil - the good stuff

If you plan on building a raised bed you’ll probably be ordering some topsoil or black dirt.  Before you just order it, give it a whiff!

You want the soil to smell like earth, no sour smell.  You want it dark but not TOO dark with any greyish cast. 

Bring a bottle of water with you, dampen the soil then roll it in your hands.  If it’s sticky, it’s clay.  If it won’t hold together, it’s too sandy.  If it forms a ball – it’s the good stuff.

Show Date: 9 Feb 10
that’s a good question.  With all the choices between soils and soilless mixes, what’s the right choice?

A good potting soil mix or potting media will be a mix of pasteurized soil, organic matter like compost and drainage material like perlite.

Soilless mixes work well for orchids.  Most plants will say if they should have a certain type of mix. READ the tag!

Show Date: 22 Jan 10
There are many ways to ruin your garden but here are three that I’ve done!

Veggies!

1. invasive plants – these are those plants labeled “easy spreader” or “fills in rapidly”.  They will take over your garden.

2. adding wood ash to your garden because grandma told you it’s good for the soil.  Nope, not here in Minnesota.  It has too much potassium with a pH of 10 to 12 which burns earthworms.  We like earthworms, don’t want to fry those guys.

3. Working a wet soil.  NO NO NO.  I’ve heard people say that they were told the soil was softer when it’s wet so it’s easier to work.  What will happen is you’ll turn your soil into dirt clods.  Hard as a rock.  If it’s moist, that’s okay but ideally you’ll work the soil when it’s dry.

Show Date: 21 Jan 10
We just talked about the Minnesota growing season! Well if you’d like to stretch that growing season there’s a cheap way to do it.

Black plastic will warm up your soil so you can plant earlier. Secure black plastic over your garden bed several weeks before the last frost date, then pull the plastic up and plant.

Raised beds also warm up faster. You can take the soil’s temperature! For tomatoes it should be 50 degrees before planting.

Show date: 7 Dec 09
Every gardener knows digging in the soil is good for the soul but now there’s proof!

A neuroscientist from the UK discovered that “friendly” bacterium in soil helps mice produce more seratonin which means they’re happier! And so are you when you dig in the dirt!

So let’s get dirty!

Show Date: 14 Oct 09
The best thing you can do for your plants and your self is to get a soil test.

I highly recommend sending your sample to the University of Minnesota Extension for more comprehensive test results and suggestions.

The how-to of sampling soil [University of MN]