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Fertilizer
Spent Brewery Grains as Compost or Soil Amendment
Question from Ica: My friend is a brewmaker and has tons of the filtered barley grains they use to make beer. Would this be a good soil admendment? Also should it be composted or can it be added directly to the garden? Answer from Pat: Spent brewery grains...
Fertilizing Trees
Question from Michelle: A year or two ago I switched from conventional to organic gardening. Occasionally I find some old synthetic fertilizer in my garden shed that I have not yet used up. That is why yesterday I fed all my citrus trees with a commercial...
Fruit Tree Nutrients
Question from Tom: I have planted many varieties of citrus and stone fruits in my yard within the last year. They are all low chill selections and should do well in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego where I live. I am comfortable with pruning and...
Humic Acid
Question from Maureen: How often do you recommend applying humic acid? I did purchase from Peaceful Valley. I put it in my veggie garden before planting seeds. Thank you! Answer from Pat: Humic acid seems to have a strong effect as a planting fluid....
Chipped Eucalyptus Wood and Leaves from Tree Trimmers
Contrary to public opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using the contents of tree-trimmers chippers as mulch, even if the source is eucalyptus. All wood eventually rots and becomes part of the soil. Eucalyptus chippings make an excellent and...
Sulfate of Potash
Q: In the rose-pro method of caring for roses in your book, it calls for sulfate of potash (0-0-22) which I can’t find in ANY nursery or hardware store around here. I did find Sul-Po-Mag which has the same NPK numbers, but also contains sulphur...
Do Not Dig Chipper Materials into the Ground
Question from Harry: I have heavy clay soil. When it gets wet, it sticks to my shoes. Recently I got a load of chipper materials from a local tree-pruner. I have been wheelbarrowing it around and spreading it on paths and beds and around my fruit trees....
Vegetables, Eucalyptus, Clay Soil, and Fruit Trees
Question from Christian: I live in Del Mar near Fairbanks Ranch, and I’d like to get some of your thoughts on gardening and adding some new organic fruits, herbs, and vegetables to my house to feed us! My goal is to turn a portion of my property...
Alfalfa as Mulch
Question from Robin: Thank you so much for the informative and entertaining lecture last night! It was a pleasure to meet you finally in person – I gave you my card – Harmony Organic Gardens. and said that I would send you information about...
Horse Manure Compost
Question from Dave: I have a very reliable and steady source of horse manure (1 quarter horse, 1 draft horse and 1 shetland pony) and an equally reliable source of pine needles. Using the old compost addage “something green and something brown”...
Fertilizing and Rain
Q. Can you give me some reasons that it’s not good to fertilize when it’s raining? A. Walking on heavy soil when it is wet can compact the soil, but other than that caveat what’s wrong with taking advantage of rainfall to fertilize with...
Generic Fertilizers & Soil Amendments
This Generic Fertilizers Chart show you what products can be used for a “source of”, how quickly it works, approximate formula, and characteristics. Generic Fertilizers & Soil Amendments Chart. Be sure to reference “Southern California...
Chicken or Horse Manure
Q. I’ve heard you talk about the benefits of horse manure.What is your opinion of using chicken instead of horse manure? I was told recently chicken is stronger than horse. A. Chicken manure is superior to horse manure but needs longer aging and...
