The Secret to Great Soil 🥀🌋🌳 What is it and how do you improve it?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
  • Learn how to improve soil health and grow better plants. The secret about microbes and organic matter.
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    The Secret to Great Soil 🥀🌋🌳 What is it and how do you improve it?
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ความคิดเห็น • 81

  • @katipohl2431
    @katipohl2431 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Here in Germany I put vermicompost with worms on my beds and cover it with leaves, sawdust and mulch fabric. We have 46 different species of earthworms here and I try to improve their conditions. Composted lignocellulose improve the water holding capacity.
    Viruses and Archae are found in soil as well.

  • @johnammerman8005
    @johnammerman8005 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    "Soil Science for Gardeners" will never outsell "Teaming with Microbes," because most people like woo-woo. I like facts. Thank you for putting this together.

    • @scottsmith507
      @scottsmith507 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I have both books. Both great, the more info you get, the better.
      Diversification....

    • @scottsmith507
      @scottsmith507 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I have both books. Both great, the more info you get, the better.
      Diversification....

    • @olivia1uk
      @olivia1uk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I have both books. The teaming with microbes book just left me frustrated with so many unanswered questions. Robert Pavlis's books on the other hand explains everything very well. I cannot wait for the two new ones to be released soon. The only other thing I can find out about the author of teaming with microbes is a load of rubbish about growing cannabis; well that explains a lot. Compare that to all of Robert Pavlis's wonderful videos and his website there is no comparison. Robert pavlis tells the TRUTH.

    • @hhwippedcream
      @hhwippedcream ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Funny. They both work for me. They are both incorrect and reductionist in different ways.

    • @B01
      @B01 ปีที่แล้ว

      Just wait til you all read teaming with Bacteria 🤣

  • @amazingdany
    @amazingdany หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The common denominator to almost all "good soil" videos/articles is pretty much adding organic matter and/or compost!

  • @tubeuser0180
    @tubeuser0180 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Very well explained Robert.

  • @wesh388
    @wesh388 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Great information and very well presented. I like that you included graphic representations as you explained

  • @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329
    @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You don't even need to head out to the woods. Just look at the soil under an old hedge.
    I had to move a hedge for somebody last year, and the soil under it looked like compost from a bag.

  • @niwatjam6927
    @niwatjam6927 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very good teacher

  • @matsnjp1033
    @matsnjp1033 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent! Pedagogically perfect! You make it interesting and "dramatic"! Chapeaux! It is also concentrated, no "blah, blah, blah". THANKS!

  • @Weifengast
    @Weifengast 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love to watch your videos. Always learn so much from you! Thank you,

  • @elsagrace3893
    @elsagrace3893 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Woo hoo! Love to know this.

  • @kathrynmettelka7216
    @kathrynmettelka7216 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you again for proving solid information.

  • @everydaydad2618
    @everydaydad2618 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Very good info, thank you!

  • @Greek5425
    @Greek5425 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Pseudoscience is alive and well in the world of gardening.It is nice to see science based information as it relates to gardening.

  • @jennypotts2008
    @jennypotts2008 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks for the commentary I’m having a problem with clay soil in the corner of my garden

  • @anthonyromano8565
    @anthonyromano8565 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Aggregation was evident when I mixed my own potting soil using worm castings, "the expensive compost" I made. After letting it sit for a few days.

  • @cqammaz53
    @cqammaz53 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I like your No None Sense to soil health.

  • @judymckerrow6720
    @judymckerrow6720 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Oh my gosh those were brownies💚🙃tightly whites? Do they even make them anymore. Well you got me thinking, Thanks for waking up this old brain!💚🙃

    • @HollenbergR
      @HollenbergR 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I totally came here looking for other commenters who noticed the plate of white chocolate chunk brownies in the thumbnail. 😅 Has to do with the aggregation analogy at 9 min in.

  • @000pps
    @000pps ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Some gardeners fill raised beds with literally no minerals, just organic matter (and water and air). Also some market gardeners work with four or five inches of pure compost on top of the soil. So their shallow rooting plants like onions just sit in compost, no minerals. Of course, such substrate will be too fertile for many flower garden plants. But it seems good for most vegetables which would thrive in it. I hear them saying that carbon (brown waste) and not just green waste or manure is essential to bind the nutrients. Without carbon (straw, leaves from trees, wood clipping, ...) in the compost, the nutrients would quickly be washed out. Instead, with carful compost production, right amount of brown stuff and green stuff (and manure) all in small pieces (some specify a C to N ratio around 30), and the right amount of water and air (aerobic composting), finally adding warms when the initial composting heat falls below 160°F / 70°C, much more compost, i.e. mature organic matter, would be produced than through unbalanced input and non-aerobic, cold composting. Is this true and is this a method to increase "the number of seats in the stadium"?

  • @cu0ngpitt
    @cu0ngpitt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    this is great info! i just found your channel and i really like how you go over these controversial subjects. do you have any video about how to keep grubs out of your lawn and garden so they dont eat up the roots?

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      not yet. To be honest, in the lawn I just let the skunks and raccoons dig them up.

    • @johac7637
      @johac7637 ปีที่แล้ว

      Beneficial Nematodes, and put a 4-5 times the recommended rate on, and then in the next rotation, either spring or fall go with a double rate, it will wipe out the most of the pests

  • @carolynsteele5116
    @carolynsteele5116 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You’re such a great teacher! I’ve added lots of organic matter to my soil, but it is only the top 4” of soil that looks good. I wish I could figure out how to penetrate the underlying clay layer

    • @tubeuser0180
      @tubeuser0180 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Plant something..the roots will do the job for you. Radishes are great.

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      With time it goes deeper.

    • @siyaindagulag.
      @siyaindagulag. ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Gypsum ,tilled in will cause an increase in friability of underlying clay .

    • @MatheoJamesAKAGoldenDragon
      @MatheoJamesAKAGoldenDragon ปีที่แล้ว

      double-dug gardening can speed things up - this involves the intensive removal of topsoil, then digging up the layer underneath, aerating and amending as necessary, then replacing the topsoil. It takes longer, but is vastly less time and labor intensive, to plant deep-rooted clay-loving plants, then prune them back or level them "no-till" style to breakup the soil and introduce carbon, microbes, and mycelium to the deeper layers, which will improve the structure over time. Key line plowing is another option, another is deep-rooted perennial grasses periodically grazed by livestock, in the style of "wholistic land management".

    • @Li.Siyuan
      @Li.Siyuan ปีที่แล้ว +1

      almost no need to do anything. The worms will come up and drag it down for you. All you need to do is top up the organic matter regularly. Early spring and late autumn are good times.

  • @nickthegardener.1120
    @nickthegardener.1120 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Add bio char to increase the stadium size.👍👌

  • @karolpiotrowski1969
    @karolpiotrowski1969 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello. I have a request for advice. What do you think about quilting of tomatoes, soil from molehills collected in the meadow?
    Karol from Poland 🇵🇱
    Regards

  • @ceaseanddesist8036
    @ceaseanddesist8036 ปีที่แล้ว

    I only grow different species of palm and a few citrus trees. Is my regimen fine? First I have clay on the sandy side in most the garden. I mulch with bark chips and do chop and drop with the weeds. For fertilizer I been using a combo of liquid kelp and fish emulsion. Does these liquid fertilizers improve my soil long term by the way and is my regime good enough?

  • @annestudley8235
    @annestudley8235 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thank you for that helpful information. How can a person have a root from a living, photosynthesizing plant all year around where the soil freezes and everything above ground dies over winter? And what would an alternative be?

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Soil may freeze, but it is never as cold as the air. Plants change in fall to get ready for freezing temperatures or they are not hardy.

    • @annestudley8235
      @annestudley8235 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Gardenfundamentals1 So when do you plant your cover crops so they have enough time to get started and keep them from competing for nutrients with your food crops?

    • @GARDENER42
      @GARDENER42 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@annestudley8235 I sow broad (fava) beans on any empty beds in October (I'm in the UK - Zone 8 equivalent) & also undersow/intersow where my leeks, brussels sprouts & overwintering brassicas are.
      I cut them down, leaving the roots in the soil, when I need the bed for new crops. All the tops then go into my compost bays (all my growing beds receive 1-1½" of compost every year, as I'm 100% no dig).

  • @Bilal_A_K_Niazai
    @Bilal_A_K_Niazai 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    After watching your videos, my work efficiency improved by 1000-fold. I can't thank God enough for introducing you to me. Being my teacher, you will always be in my prayers. Stay blessed! 💕

  • @neilbennett9281
    @neilbennett9281 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One of my favorite from the many fine videos you’ve produced.

  • @kennyw871
    @kennyw871 ปีที่แล้ว

    This presentation reminded of a significant problem that developed in the Alaska Pipeline as a rusult of erosin of the inner wall surfaces. This eventually led to leakage of crude oil into the environment. Needless to say, this cost oil companies big bucks in loss crude, pipeline shut-downs and repairs to the pipeline, not to mention the damage to the environment. They developed a device referred to as a "pig" to collect samples to figure out what was causing all the damage. As it turns out, they discovered it was sulfite reducing bacteria causing all the fuss. Yes, anaerobic bacteria thriving on crude oil! As a result, formaldehyde was added to the crude to control the bacteria, which has to be extracted from the crude oil.

  • @dmitrimikrioukov5935
    @dmitrimikrioukov5935 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Cacti don't like too much organic matter and organic fertilisers. Same is true for conifers, but to a smaller degree. So you provide a very good general pucture, but it isn't always very accurate.

  • @manonthemoon34
    @manonthemoon34 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, well put together, really invaluable information that has help so much. thank you
    Just a thought or, well, my concern about synthetics is that they could disrupt natural processes and soil ecosystems. For example, the type of microorganisms and their population sizes could be affected. The symbiotic relations with plants and root systems, the change to environmental processes such as water cycles, nutrient cycles... So the use of synthetics on a mass scale could lead to consequences that we can not comprehend. By using organics we facilitate/promote the established natural processes and assist their upkeep/improvement. I'd love to know more on this - if you have time. As you can guess, i generally am against synthetics but more info is key to making better decisions in the garden
    Again, your videos are amazing - insightful and clearly explained. Thank you for your work in promoting soil health

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      synthetics can change the microbe populations, in part because they tend to change pH levels, but also for other reasons. Some microbes do better with synthetics and others not so well.

    • @B01
      @B01 ปีที่แล้ว

      Using synthetic fertilizers is absolutely bad, it does not utilize the soil food web system effectively and being salt based, it removes available water from microbes which need it most. Every now and then, obviously not much issue. But how many conventional farmers/gardener's are switching up their feeding regimens? Lol by avoiding the SFW we reduce microbial diversity and therefore invite pests/diseases.

    • @B01
      @B01 ปีที่แล้ว

      As a soil nerd, very much loved the video btw. Thanks for taking the time to put it together

  • @johnjude2685
    @johnjude2685 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hay I'm buried some shorts in several locations
    Thanks

  • @joanncrespo683
    @joanncrespo683 ปีที่แล้ว

    do you have any information on compost tea and how do you make it

  • @pdfbrander
    @pdfbrander ปีที่แล้ว

    If microbes are "always at capacity" how can we hurt them? They are always at capacity. If we till the soil or walk on it, would it be advisable to add some microbes back (maybe you had the family round and they were in the garden) or do they just come back on their own? Bit confused. You said "microbes are always at capacity" then "don't hurt your microbes". So can you have microbes not at capacity or not?

  • @kylenolan3138
    @kylenolan3138 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Can there be too much organic matter? I've seen recommendations to add 50mm / 2" of compost every year, with mulch on top. That would certainly exceed 5% in short order.

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes. With too much the nutrient levels can become toxic.
      www.gardenmyths.com/compost-is-it-poisoning-your-garden/

  • @marktapley7571
    @marktapley7571 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I disagree about tilling. If you have an area of poor soil and till through it in order to lay an irrigation Line or electric cable, that area will be easily visible for years because it was tilled. You can even drive though the countryside where pipelines have been laid and see how the grass is taller, thicker and darker where the pipeline lays.

  • @metasamsara
    @metasamsara ปีที่แล้ว

    introducing microbes is essential for indoor organic gardening in inorganic medium isn't it? or do worm castings contain all you need? I ordered a bag of rhizobacteria to tie all my supersoil mix together I was afraid of lacking it. I have old soil in bag that probably died by now, will mix coco coir with it, dolomite, mycorrhizae fertilizer, biochar, perlite, vermiculite, alfalfa powder, worm castings, and finally some fertilizer. I was afraid of missing organic and microbial life to tie it all together which is why I ordered rhizobacteria. I will also add some liquid algae through watering. Last grow I didn't take care about micronutrients and got fungal disease ruining my crops. I'm still uncertain on the ratios to use esp. dirt vs cococoir, but this video will help as a baseline, thanks!

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "introducing microbes is essential for indoor organic gardening in inorganic medium isn't it?" - no. Everything involved, your hands, the potting mix, the pot, the plant is covered with microbes - you can't keep them out.

  • @rezganger
    @rezganger 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    do people still keep green squares in front of their house?

  • @sherylgordon9266
    @sherylgordon9266 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I was told by the local extension service not to add sand to our clay soil because it will make it like bricks. He said to use some kind of rock that has air pockets in it, but I don’t remember what it is called..

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The sand + clay = hard soil is a common idea. I don't buy it - too many people add sand to their clay. But it may depend on the type of clay or sand.

    • @ghotiemama
      @ghotiemama 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I think vermiculite Is what you are mentioning. I add it to my tulip bulbs because they need good drainage

    • @sherylgordon9266
      @sherylgordon9266 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ghotiemama I googled the rock they mentioned and they were actually little pebbles that had air pockets in them. But I closed the tab accidentally and now I don’t remember what they were called.

    • @ganbinocanfly
      @ganbinocanfly 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@sherylgordon9266 Google perlite. It is a volcanic rock that is very porous that is used to add aeration, and help with compaction.

    • @KevinSmith-dq9tz
      @KevinSmith-dq9tz ปีที่แล้ว

      @@sherylgordon9266 pumice.

  • @robertreznik9330
    @robertreznik9330 ปีที่แล้ว

    You said organic matter of 5% is good. Is this SOM or plant and animal parts that many describe as raw compost?

  • @olivia1uk
    @olivia1uk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So are you implying in your video that over time with organic matter and microbes even a heavy clay soil or very light sandy soil can become "good soil" with aggregates?

    • @Gardenfundamentals1
      @Gardenfundamentals1  2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes.

    • @angelafestervan7596
      @angelafestervan7596 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      YES! I started a garden at a brand new built home. The ground was hard terracotta red clay packed like pavement. I have horses so I simply dumped the manure, soiled wood flake bedding, and old hay on it. About 2 feet deep. It’s like the clay was STARVING and that ground devoured the fresh stable waste. About 8 months later the composted layer was a mere few inches and the old hard clay was rich dark chocolate brown and pliable. I broadcast zinnia seeds over it which gave it a forested environment for that summer of transformation. I’m in Louisiana with lots of rain, long summer heat, and short freezing winter. ❤
      I’m a believer in what this guy is selling 😀♥️

  • @brandonstahl3562
    @brandonstahl3562 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Compost and Jadam build thos microbes

  • @apurvakmr
    @apurvakmr ปีที่แล้ว

    Is that a pic of brownies in the thumbnail

  • @Rocketman0407
    @Rocketman0407 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As for potting mixes. I have heard that too much organic matter, especially Compost can case rot root due to the c02 it realese during the decomposition.
    I made my own mix of 1 peat 1 compost 1/2 perlite and it drains well, but I got a bit worried it might cause root rot in the future.
    I grow citrus and palms in the containers and I live in desert climate.
    Should I worry?

  • @williamwaters4506
    @williamwaters4506 ปีที่แล้ว

    I do not use fish emulsion/fertilizer because of issues with mercury. The companies who make this product do not list on the label the amount of mercury, nor what fish was used to make the fertilizer. Different fish have different levels of mercury. I have searched on line and some people say it is not a concern because the mercury levels are minimal. Yet, the FDA, on its website, recommends minimal amounts of fish should be consumed if pregnant and not to breast feed.
    I am not sure how safe homemade fish fertilizer is. Letting ground up fish rot means you have tons of bacteria. I never heard of anyone recommending using ground up meat. Fresh manure is not recommended yet people use fish heads. Since I cannot find any scientific information on fish fertilizer and mercury, I do not use it.