[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Chris Trask]

    Since you've said that your soil is depleted, then it's very likely that
you need to add other nutrients such as phosphorus, iron, etc.  At the same
time, you need to restore the microbiota of the soil which is what the
plants need as they cannot absorb the nutrients by themselves, except for a
small percentage of species such as orchids.

    I have had similar problems, but not to the extent that you've
described.  I've worked in a mixture of compost, manure, bonemeal (or rock
phosphate), bloodmeal, superphosphate, iron chelate, magnesium sulphate, and
some samples of soil from beneath healthy native shrubs and grasses to the
upper 4-6 inches of soil with good results.

    It takes a very small quantity of native soil to get the process
working, and the key ingedient for promoting the growth of soil microbiota
is phosphorus.  Hoewever, too much superphosphate will shut down the growth
of soil microbiota, and it should be no more than 5% of the volume of
bonemeal that you use.  This is a rather complicated issue, but I generally
add the native soil to the mixture only in close proximity to the plants,
which reduces the quantity needed substantially.  The plant roots will
spread the microbiota throughout the soil as part of the growth process.

    You should probably have a soil analysis performed, and I think you can
still have this done at a coop extension office.  From that, you can
determine what you need to add to your soil to make it productive.

Chris Trask
Outings Leader, Sierra Club (1981-1991)
Palo Verde Group Outings Chair, Sierra Club (1985-1988)
Grand Canyon Chapter Outings Chair, Sierra Club (1988-1991)
Member, Arizona Native Plant Society
Member, Arizona Governor's Advisory Council on Invasive Species
Member, Central Arizona Weed Management Area

     We cannot command nature except by obeying her.

                                 - Sir Francis Bacon


----- Original Message -----
From: <trainhr1 at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 10:00 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Leslie
> 85032
> trainhr1 at cox.net
>
> I hope you can help me.
>
> Since we have tried landscaping our yard, I have had some bizarre results.
We recognized that the soil was depleted, so I have been using manure and
mulch to help in a flower garden. Despite my efforts, most of the flowers
die off. In checking with my gardening books and this website, I was advised
to check the roots. When I do, I find the plants have no roots. Most of the
flowers I have put in seem to start well and then get sickly and dry up.
When I check to see what happened, the plants  seem to have a stunted root
system if any roots at all.
>
> Most of the grass, except at the edges and in the garden has died off. If
I overwater, then we get some grass growth. It's a Bermuda grass with a root
system that is unbelievable often extending several feet before popping out
of the ground.
>
> Currently, the only healthy plant is verbena. I have a couple of mum
plants that are stunted, but most died. My citrus trees aren't growing as
fast as they should. The cacti are doing better now that we have had all the
rain.
>
> We have changed the watering system to a drip system recently. I was
hoping that getting the right amount of water to the plants would help, and
it has to a certain degree. The plants, however are still not strong or big.
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions or ideas.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Leslie
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date: 10/14/06
>
>