York Landscape Extravaganza

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York Landscape Extravaganza The Dirt on Soil
Overcoming Poor Soil October 2006presented
byBill Garlette william.garlette_at_cox.net
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• Just Say No To Lawn and Garden Drugs

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York Landscape Extravaganza The Dirt on Soil
Overcoming Poor Soil October 2006presented
byBill Garlette william.garlette_at_cox.net
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• Outline
• Overview
• Healthy Soil and the Ecology of Organics
• Soil Biology
• Composting and Compost Use
• Mulches
• Brief Overview of Pest Control Without Poisons
  (beneficial insects, plants that attract them,
  organic treatments) and Lawn and Weed Wizardry

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Remember

• Soil is at the root of all your plant problems!

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And

• Feed the Soil and Itll Feed the Plants!

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Its Alive!!!

• Just like Plants and Animals The Soil is Alive!
  We Have to Treat It the Same As Other Living
  Things

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What We Dread

• Germs Disease
• Bugs
• Weeds

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The Outcome

• If we win the war to control Nature, we WILL be
  on the losing side!

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How To Get Healthy Soil

• Compost
• Natural Minerals and Organic Nutrients
• Other Organic Residues
• Organic Mulches

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Why Do It?

• Healthy Soil Less Water Less
• Healthy Soil Less Fertilizer Less
• Healthy Soil Less Plant Diseases Pest Less
  Chemical Controls Less
• Healthy Soil Less Plant Death Less New Plants
  Less

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Seven Organic Rules

• Always use the best adapted varieties for each
  environment.
• Plant in the preferred season.
• Balance the mineral content of the soil.
• Build and maintain the soil organic content
  humus.
• Do nothing to harm the beneficial soil life.
• Consider troublesome insects and diseases as
  symptoms of one of the above rules having been
  violated
• Be patient. Mother Nature gives birth, but
  Father Time controls the cycles
• - from Lessons in Nature by Malcolm Beck

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil

• What do we mean by Organic?
• Theres No Silver Bullet. Just Dont Get In The
  Way Of Nature.
• No Chemicals
• No icides
• No Growth Manipulated Organisms (GMO)

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil Figure
Out The Fertilizer

• Whats This Good For?
• 10-10-10

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil Figure
Out The Fertilizer

• And This?
• 3-36-9

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The Questions

• Can You Figure Out What Vitamins, Minerals,
  Nutrients You Should Take For A Week?
• Would You Want a Weeks Worth of Meals for
  Sunday Dinner?

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Here Are The Basic Plant Needs

• Carbon (C) Iron (Fe)
• Hydrogen (H) Boron (B)
• Oxygen (O) Zinc (Zn)
• Nitrogen (N) Copper (Cu)
• Phosphorus (P) Manganese (Mn)
• Potassium (K) Molybdenum (Mo)
• Magnesium (Mg) Chlorine (Cl)
• Calcium (Ca) Cobalt (Co)
• Sulfur (S)
• 17 Basic needs

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Dont Forget,Those Are Just The Elementals.Then
You Have

• Amino Acids
• Humic Fulvic Acids
• Photosynthetic Sugars
• Mycorrhizal Fungi
• And Lots More Stuff In The Plant Soil Food Web

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil

• This One Tells The Tale!!
• Importance of Proper Mineral Balance If One is
  Out of Balance, It Effects Others in a
  Detrimental Manner

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil

• How did plants survive B.C. (Before Chemicals)?

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil

• The Soil Food Web is comprised of microorganisms
  that provide nutrients and health to the plants
  as well as the soil.

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The Dirt on Soil Overcoming Poor Soil
Function of Soil Organisms
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Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of
Soil Organisms

• Fill a Swimming Pool with Salt
• Osmotic Shock

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of
Soil Organisms

• Soil Soil microbes Plants
  Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores
• Everybody Feeds the Soil

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of
Soil Organisms

• If the microbes in the soil are disrupted and the
  nutrient cycle is out of balance then
• Hollow Plants Hollow Food

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of
Soil Organisms
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Principals of Organic HorticultureCaring For The
Soil As A Living System

• Three Aspects of Soil Health Fertility
• Physical
• Chemical Organic Chemistry
• Biological
• Requirements of a Living System
• Food
• Air
• Water
• Shelter Soil structure Conservation
• Living Organism - Biota

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Principals of Organic HorticultureCaring For The
Soil As A Living System

• The Organic Matter Cycle
• The Soil Food Web

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Feeding the
Soil a Balanced Diet

• Compost
• Lime, Other Natural Minerals and Organic
  Nutrients
• Other Organic Residues
• Organic Mulches
• Cover Crops

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Questions?
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Compost Happens
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Why Compost

• Healthier Soil Plants
• More Soil Biology
• No Chemistry 501
• Less Icides (Pest, Herb, Fung)
• Less Chemical Fertilizers
• Less Chemical Stink
• Less

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Why CompostBottom Line

• Cheap
• Simple
• No Chemicals which Kill the Soil Organisms
• Better Plant and Water Quality

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Compost Can Be Used To

• Add Beneficial Organisms
• Add Nutrients
• Help Sandy Soil Hold Moisture
• Loosen Heavy Clay Soils
• Make Potting Soil
• Mulch

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Excellent Compost Materials

• GREENIES
• (Nitrogen)
• Coffee GroundsCover CropsSeaweedVegetable
  scrapsEgg shellsFruitWeedsGrass clippings
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"BROWNIES (Carbon) HayLeavesStrawNutshellsSh
redded paperPine needlesSaw dustGarden
stalks 60
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Problem Stuff

• Disease insect infested plants
• Noxious weeds
• Meat scraps
• Dairy products
• Cooking oils grease

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Organic
Mulches Why Use It?

• Conserve Moisture
• Suppress Annual Weeds
• Moderate Soil Temperatures
• Protect the Soil from Compaction
• Feed the Soil Life and Modify Nutrient Levels
• Harbor Insects
• Protect Plants from WeedEaterisium

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Organic
Mulches - Types

• Hay Straw
• Pine Bark Shredded Nuggets
• Pine Needles
• Wood Chips
• Oyster Shells
• Grass Mulching Mower Cool Season Fescue
• Leaf
• Rice Hulls
• Rock

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Natural
Minerals and Organic Nutrients

• The vitamins in a soils diet.
• Aragonite - Naturally mined, volcanic mineral
  with over 66 minerals and trace elements
• Sea Solids
• Lime
• Elemental Sulphur
• Rock Phosphate (0-3-0)
• Colloidal Phosphate (0-3-0)
• Greensand Ocean-deposit iron-potassium silicate
• Gypsum Calcium sulfate
• Vermiculite Lightweight mineral
• Perlite Specially processed volcanic material
• Humates Mineralized and stabilized decomposed
  prehistoric plant and animal matter

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Principals of Organic Horticulture Controlling
Plant Problems Without Poisons
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The Dirt On SoilPest Control Without
PoisonsBeneficials

• Insects
• Plants
• Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects
• Plant Extracts

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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial InsectsThe Enemy of
My Enemy is My Friend
Everyone recognizes the familiar Ladybug, or
ladybird beetle. Many species have an enormous
appetite for aphids--one of our most common plant
pests. Others prefer scale insects and mites and
are very effective in reducing infestations.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Ladybug larvae are equally relentless predators.
Their colorful, but ferocious appearance often
causes unknowing gardeners to assume that they
must be harmful. Nothing could be further from
the truth.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
The Praying Mantis is another widely-recognized
insect predator. Nymphs and adults alike lie in
wait for an unlucky insect which strays too
close, then strike out to grab it with their
modified front legs.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Ambush bugs use the same lie-in-wait tactic.
Notice that their front legs are also enlarged
and modified. The bright yellow colors of this
species camouflage them in their favorite
hideout--goldenrod flower.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
The Lacewing Larvae are miniature monsters when
viewed at close range. They are deadly enemies of
small caterpillars, aphids, and other soft-bodied
insects.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
The lowly Ground beetle, so common under logs and
debris, is another friend of man. Both larvae and
adults are predaceous and feed on a wide variety
of insects.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Less common, but still important, Robber flies
are deadly enemies of grasshoppers, wasps, and
other flies which they capture on the wing. Some
of their prey are as large or larger than they
are.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Tachinid flies are parasites of other insects.
This fly has laid its small white eggs just above
the legs of the caterpillar in front of it. Upon
hatching, the fly maggots will burrow through
their hosts skin and feed on its internal organs.
The caterpillar will die just as the larvae
emerge and complete their development.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
In addition to these flies, many Small Wasps are
important parasites of other insects. Adult
parasites range in size from very small. Most
range in size from 2 to 15 mm. Larvae of most
parasites develop inside the bodies of their
prey, but some feed externally or pupate outside
the host's body. These parasites are important in
suppressing populations of many insects. They are
important for control of loopers, cutworms, and
aphids.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Predaceous Stinkbugs Three predaceous species.
This stinkbug is shown feeding on a caterpillar.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
MINUTE PIRATE BUGS Adults are oval shaped, about
3 mm long, very flat, and marked conspicuously
with black and white. Nymphs are soft-bodied,
yellow or amber colored. Pirate bug adults and
nymphs are very active predators and may be found
on all above ground parts of plants. Active
stages feed by sucking the body fluids from
aphids, spider mites, and immature stages of many
small insects.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Predator mites control spider mites as well as
other pest mites.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Insects
Damselflies Feed on aquatic insects like
mosquitoes, and midges. Dragon Flies or Mosquito
Hawks Feed on aquatic insects and mosquitoes
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants that Attract
Beneficial Insects
There is a technique called Farmscaping. Farmers
plant a patch of plants that attract beneficial
insects at the end of crop rows. We can use this
same principle Gardenscaping. One bed or
border that has exclusively plants that beckon
the good guys. That way we know for certain that
a majority of the bugs on those plants are our
buddies.
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants that Attract
Beneficial Insects
Plants that attract lacewings
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants that Attract
Beneficial Insects
Plants that attract ladybugs
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants that Attract
Beneficial Insects
Plants that attract Tachinid Flies, Hoverflies
Minute Pirate Bugs and Parasitic Mini-Wasps
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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants

• Landscape Examples of Gardenscaping

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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants

• Landscape Examples of Gardenscaping

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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants

• Landscape Examples of Gardenscaping

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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plants

• Landscape Examples of Gardenscaping

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The Dirt On SoilBeneficial Plant Extracts

• Neem Tree Extracts and Neem Oil
• Only effects insects that feed on plants treated
  with Neem.
• Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) Disrupts the
  larval and instar stages.
• Interferes with insect reproductive systems.
• Outright kills some insects.

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The Dirt On Soil
Those Wild and Wacky Weeds How to Purge Them
Without Poisons
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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Where Do Weeds Come From?
• Who Discovered
• Weeds?

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Principals of Organic HorticultureThose Wild and
Wacky WeedsHow to Purge Them without Poisons

• The Scientists and Grass Seed
  Salesmen

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• What Do We Need to Do to Control Weeds?

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• We Need to Control Mother Nature and the Plant
  Kingdom?

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Like All Other Plants, Weeds Need
• The Right Soil Conditions,
• Water
• And
• Sun Light

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Whats The Major Cause of Weeds?

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• The Home Owner

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Too Much Fertilizer (Mainly N)
• Too Much Watering
• Too Much Compaction
• Too Much Bare Soil Mulch
• Just Right Soil Conditions For the Weeds
• Too Wet
• Too Dry
• Something Out of Balance in the Soil
  CN-P-K-Mn-Ca-O2-CO2
• Upsetting the Soil Biology/Foodweb Chemical
  Interference
• And, of course, Cutting the Turf Too Short

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Too Short Mower settings (Less Than
• 2 ½- 3)
• Not Enough Organic Matter Return (Green
  Manure/Grass Clippings or Compost)

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Solutions
• No Chemicals
• Organic content - Compost
• Proper height of mower
• Proper watering
• Corn Gluten Meal as pre-emergent deterrent but
  remember, this is a source of Nitrogen
• Flame Weeding
• Vinegar Solution
• Newspaper suffocation

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• With Healthy Soil and a Nice Tall Canopy of Grass
  Weeds Dont Have a Chance?

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The Dirt On SoilHealthy Soil Healthy Plants

• With Enough Chemicals and Persistence, We Can
  Win!

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Solutions
• Make a Weed Map Only Treat Where You Get Weeds
• Soil Test Balance The Soil
• Organic Content Compost
• Avoid All Chemicals
• Proper Height of Mower

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The Dirt On SoilThose Wild and Wacky WeedsHow
to Purge Them without Poisons

• Solutions
• Corn Gluten Meal as pre-emergent deterrent but
  remember, this is a source of Nitrogen (N)
• Weed Flamer
• Vinegar (vegetable base) and Vinegar Based Weed
  Products for Spot Treatment
• Boiling Water
• Soil Solarization
• Soil Balance biologically and nutrients

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Questions?
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• A Rind Is A Terrible
• Thing To Waste

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York Landscape Extravaganza The Dirt on Soil
Overcoming Poor Soil October 2006presented
byBill Garlette william.garlette_at_cox.net