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Search Results for "alkalinity"

Reclaimed water for gardening

Question from Karen: I’m having a reverse osmosis filtration system installed in my kitchen. To produce it 3 gallons are needed to produce 1 gallon of filtered water. Ideally I’d like to recycle and reuse the excess water. Do you know anyone who has done this or do you have any information about whether this […]

How Gypsum Improves Drainage

Question from Barbara: Can you tell me whether adding gypsum will truly help break up and/or improve clay soil in the home garden? The information I find on line is conflicting and confusing.  So glad you’re there (or here) to help us. Answer from Pat: Gypsum is a relatively inexpensive mineral mined from the earth […]

Granulated Sulfur

Question from Robin: Hi. I have a problem and I need some advice. I spread granulated sulfur on the top of heavy clay soil. Hindsight shows me this is not optimum, and I would like your opinion on my options. I want to establish vegetables on the site. And I had wanted to do it […]

Sumps, Drains and French Drains

Question from Harry: I’m glad I found this article. I was thinking of adding french wells: simply using a post hole digger for 3-5 feet and filling with sand in areas where water is accumulating. Would this have the same disastrous effect? Answer from Pat: Yes, your plan would have a disastrous effect though not […]

Nematodes

Question from Vicki: I have nematodes in my garden. is it safe to eat the vegetables if there are nematodes in the roots? Are there any vegetables tht nematodes are less likely to invade? Enjoyed your seminar in San Diego a few months ago! thanks! Answer from Pat: It is fine to eat the vegetables […]

Root Rot and Wisterias

Question from Judy: My Wisteria – 9.5 years old — just stopped growing and leaves began yellowing and drying. I cut back some wood that had not leafed out and it was dead. When I looked up these conditions, it said it could be Cotton Root Rot. Have you ever seen or experienced this? The […]

Introduction to Biochar

Question from Frank: I would like to introduce a 2000 year old organic soil conditioner called Biochar into the gardening consciousness. When people read about, study its properties just a little bit they are intrigued. They see it possibilities immediately. There is a wealth of biochar studies, mostly outside the US. The possibilities for carbon […]

Eucalyptus Ficifolia

Question from Desiree: Hi Pat. I am back again. I had a Eucalyptus Ficifolia. It did well for 2 years. The leaves then started yellowing, almost rusty, then dried up and finally the tree died. I am not sure what happened. I know that the area where we planted gets plenty of water, decent drainage […]

When to Prune a CAMPHOR TREE (Cinnamomum camphora)

Question from Barbie: We have a very large Camphor tree about 45 years old. W have had it trimmed/laced several times. We want to be sure we have this done at the right time (or season) of the year. We live in So. CA about 20 miles North of San Diego. Also are about 2 […]

Root Knot Nematodes

Question from Arline: How can one get rid of nematodes? A friend of mine has a community garden and she has them in her plot…..any tips? Answer from Pat: There are many ways to get rid of root knot nematodes. I think I have now found the best way, but in order to answer this […]