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Appreciation post: How a dying tree in my yard taught me about soil health
I used to ignore the soil in my garden, thinking plants would grow fine on their own. Last spring, an old oak started losing leaves, and I panicked. A friend who loves plants told me to check the soil pH and nutrient levels. I got a test kit and found the soil was too acidic and compacted. After adding lime and organic matter, the tree bounced back in months. Honestly, I never gave soil much thought before, but now I test it each season. Tbh, it saved my whole garden. Ngl, I feel like a better plant parent now.
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pat_webb451mo ago
What kind of organic matter did you end up using, just regular compost or something more specific like leaf mold? I'm always curious what people find works best for fixing compaction fast.
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david70128d ago
Pat asked about fixing compaction fast. I tried compost but honestly just used my own shredded leaves from last fall. Worked okay. My real trick was just not stepping on the wet soil anymore. Felt dumb when I realized I was the one packing it down.
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the_jennifer28d ago
So my friend did the leaf thing too, but then he went full @angelab76 and drove his riding mower over the wet spot.
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