Soil Building Systems, Inc. Experts Answers the Most Frequently Asked Questions about Soil Amendment

1
Soil Building Systems, Inc. Experts Answers the
Most Frequently Asked Questions about Soil
Amendment
2

• Is pine bark a good soil amendment or mulch?
• It is not better than mulch, but pine bark is
  extensively promoted as an inexpensive soil
  conditioner.
• You should avoid all forms of pine bark, despite
  its raw, aged or composted form. Pine bark is
  void of any nutrient content, decomposes slowly,
  has poor aeration and doesnt help in moisture
  retention.
• Mulch is better as pink bark causes relentless
  nitrogen tie-up in the soil.

3

• Is sawdust a good soil amendment or mulch?
• Sawdust shouldnt be used as a soil amendment as
  its decomposition is very slow and has no
  nutrients in it.
• It has small particle size, which leads to poor
  aeration and no considerable assistance in
  moisture retention, causing nitrogen tie-up in
  the soil.
• Apart from this, Soil Building Systems, Inc.
  provides saw dust to some of the Metroplex lawns
  to avoid numerous long or short-term problems.
• But, it is recommended to avoid the use of
  materials containing sawdust.

4

• Are cotton burrs a good soil amendment?
• Yes! Cotton burrs are very rich in protein and
  they are better than normal manure due to double
  nutrient values.
• On complete decomposition, they are a great and
  powerful supply of nutrients and nitrogen.
• They also break-up tight clay based soils,
  improving moisture retention in sandy soils, and
  encouraging mycorrhizal interaction within root
  systems.
• Moreover, cotton burrs do not tie up nitrogen or
  other nutrients in the soil.
• Soil Building Systems, Inc. uses fully decomposed
  cotton burrs in their compost having no
  chemicals, weeds or insects.

5

• Is manure a good soil amendment?
• Of course! Manure is a great source of nitrogen
  and nutrients, and is fully composted.
• But, its over-use can contribute to extreme
  levels of nitrogen and potassium, and sometimes a
  lack of available phosphorus, causing excessive
  leaf and stem growth, delayed maturity and poor
  storage quality in flowers.
• Raw manures have higher total nutrient content
  and it should be odorless with an appearance of
  black dirt, and should not burn plants when
  blended with other soil.
• On the other hand, fully composted manure makes a
  great soil amendment that will produce desirable
  results.

6

• Is mulch an adequate cushion for a playground?
  What other alternatives are there?
• Definitely, Mulch is a satisfactory and adequate
  cushion for playgrounds.
• Soil Building Systems, Inc. (SBS) offers
  specifically engineered materials for playgrounds
  that are in compliance with government ASTM
  standards.
• In addition to this, SBS also offers several pea
  gravels and sand for the same purpose.

7
THANK YOU Soil Building Systems, Inc.