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Connecicut , No. Stonington

ive got clay like soil i guess you could say... right now my patch for spring is half grass. are 5 year old oak leaves ok to put in? theynve been in a pile for ever so i am guessing they are decomposed in the miidle what else should i put in ?
thankyou

1/11/2004 5:17:10 PM

[email protected]

Five year old Oak leaves are fine by now. Till'em in.
Aged manure too. Just watch using fresh manure in the spring. I have a list of some manure sources in CT if you need it.
Do a site search for "soilmaster" & "turface" too.
Lime &/or Gypsum help clay, but........
Soil test ASAP for specific pH &/or particular nutrient needs.

Our closest free lab is:

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington St., New Haven.

(203) 974-8485 ask for Greg Bugbee in Soil Testing. He or his staff will mail you a test kit. It was free last time I checked. You can mail it back or better yet, go in person & meet the lab staff. Call ahead & ask about a tour. This is the first Ag-Station in US history. With all the facilities here, very few issues the plague us can't be addressed. Most of the staff here is very good.

Directions: From Exit 6 off I-91, turn right at the end of the ramp onto Willow Street. Follow Willow St. to the end and turn right onto Whitney Avenue. Huntington St. is the third left. The experiment Station is on the right, just past the first Cross Street on Huntington. The Soils bldg is the first one on the left as you enter the grounds. Find parking behind the bldgs.

Steve

1/11/2004 6:49:52 PM

Puyallup, WA

Joey,
If you want even more information, you might want to go to the Site Search and type in: "oak leaves".

1/11/2004 6:57:21 PM

Montoursville, PA

Joey.........you are in trouble! You will have half a dozen days or so in the spring to prepair a garden patch from scratch before it is time to plant. Can not be done within any streach of the imagination if you want a half decent patch.
....The first step is to get a soil test. Do not put those oak leaves in. Read the many entries in the how to section of this site. You may also look into the diaries including mine for guidance. In the meantime locate and reserve yards and yards of manures. Start a compost pile. Locate and bring in any leaf material but the nut tree variety types.
..... If you really want to grow anything worth while you are going to have to pay the fiddler and work to build a pretty good patch. You can be ready to plant in a reasonably good patch by this time 2005.
......There might be a Conn. grower somewhere close who would take you by the hand...but you need to show serious desire and drive to do this. Walking into this world blind is a failure looking for a place to happen.

1/11/2004 7:14:14 PM

Deer Park WA

Joey,

How big is your patch in relationship to your compost pile? I would till your planting site once first, and then work in your amendments. One plant= 4 yards (mininum) of compost in our patch.

1/11/2004 11:59:46 PM