Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - Re: [NAFEX] compost, peatmoss, and soil ph

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Lee Reich <garden@leereich.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] compost, peatmoss, and soil ph
  • Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:22:38 -0500

I apply a three inch depth of sawdust or wood shavings every fall after the leaves drop. Some years, I have used leaves or chipped trees. I would not expect any organic material, even peat moss, to have too lasting an effect on increasing acidity. Every few years, or as per a soil test for pH, I add sulfur; pelletized sulfur, which looks like yellow lentils, is inexpensive and easiest to spread because it's not dusty.

I also spread soybean meal each year at the rate of about 2 pounds per 100 square feet.

Lee Reich, PhD

Books by Lee Reich:
The Pruning Book
Weedless Gardening
Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
A Northeast Gardener's Year


On Jan 27, 2008, at 1:16 PM, Karen Tillou wrote:

i would use sawdust, or wood ash. all the commercial growers in the willamette valley, oregon apply sawdust mulch every year for increasing acidity and adding organic matter.  sand isn't going to do squat.  leaf mulch might help, but it would have to be applied year after year, with minor effect.  a pine/fir needle mulch might do better than oak leaf even.  

peaceful valley farm supply carries "tiger 90" an organic approved sulfur product formulated for lowering pH.  remember sulfur overdoses can be toxic.

karen tillou
oregon city, OR - zone 8a and wet

On Jan 26, 2008, at 8:36 PM, Jerrydana5@aol.com wrote:

I have several blueberry bushes and am going to add several more this spring. I have a ton of natural leaf compost from our yard leaves and can add some peat moss also for organic matter and to help bring ph down.  The soil is rich, but too acid--about 6.5 to 6.8 (probably due to adding a lot of horse manure mixed with horse urine.  I've had the soil tested and it is very rich, but not acid enough for blueberries.  Other plants due well.)  The leaf compost is from maple and oak leaves.  It is well composted.
Which would be better to add to my soil for organic matter and to bring the ph down into the proper range for blueberries?  Peatmoss or leaf compost?  Or both?  Possibly some sand, also?  THe blueberries I have now are doing fair, but not fantastic.  I am adding some sulfur also the bring the ph down.
Jerry in southern Indiana



_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list 

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions.  
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list 

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions.  
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page