I am delighted to hear you say that building soil is paramount. Mulching, cover crops, leaving plant roots in place are a terrific start, no matter where you are located or soil type
haha..I live in 8B too here in TX...and yes agree. Get your gardening done early or else you're staying in for the rest of the day. Nice weather we're having today though. Temps are in the 70s. Love it!
Clay soil - the bane of many Texas gardener's. On the plus side clay is nutrient dense. On the down side, here it bakes like clay and is not unlike cement to deal with lol. I'll have to check to see if I can get the expanded shale locally. Since I raise red worms I'm lucky to have a ready supply of worm castings (easy to do). As always, great info.
You can find expanded shale in the form of soil builder at Covington’s, and I bet you can find it at Living Earth if you have a truck. I live in the Dallas area!
Good stuff. I amended the very compacted clay soil here with gypsum in the spring, just broadcasting it by hand because I had limited amount and no broadcaster. You can very much tell where areas got more than others. I have some spots in the plot that you could sink into, and others that continually stay cracked and hard. I'm about to plant fall potatoes, and I'm thinking that I'll amend with a little gypsum again before planting to help loosen it all up. Spring potatoes did okay, but they really needed that clay broken up more. I had manually broken up the dirt in a large trench along with the gypsum, added espoma, coffee grounds, and cheap ($2 a bag) topsoil to mix in to just make it loose. It was great in the trench, but it needs more than the trench. (Southern Illinois, 6B)
I'm already doing some of those things, but will look into the mushroom stuff. I'm also planning to add chicken manure. There is a brand that doesn't stink called Coop Gro.
Great advice, plants including "weeds" naturally spread macro and micro compost material throughout the soil called roots! Clay soil becomes lovely friable material. In Texas I would drying out is a huge challenge so covering threat top soil is essential. I think minimal compression including walking is important to maintain 25% air that idea soil has. Could I suggest you start aeration at the top of the bed and work back so your standing does not compress what you have just loosened?
Quick heads up...when using a digging fork, or any fork to break up soil, you work backwards...not forward. That way you don't compact the soil you've already broken up...plus it's easier to break up. Otherwise nice video, thanks for sharing.
I am one of those do not step in the raised beds fanatics, but you have to when you are amending your soil. And really, if the clay is dry, it is ok to step on it. Compaction occurs when the clay is wet. And expanded clay is really cool, providing aeration and drainage at the same time. I use to use it in my potting mix replacing the perlite. But I can not get it locally anymore. A&M is really high on using it in clay soil, saying you can use up to 50% with clay. You did a really good job on the video. I have extra daikon radish seeds if you want any. It is suppose to be good at breaking up clay soils. Be interesting to see if it really works. Did well on loamy soils when I planted some a couple of years ago.
Or we're here because while we don't have clay soil we just like your content ❤ But it is good information for the future if I move to a place with clay soil!
Omg thank you for explaining expanded shale! I also live in the central tx area and my research states using “expanded shale” but I haven’t yet tried it bc, well, nobody has harped on it other than a little blip. Will be going to get these “yummy goodness”. Keep on bringing the content! Thank you for sharing!
Expanded slate seemed impossible for me to source. Picked up Espoma Soil Perfector at the recommendation of my local nursery the day after watching your video. Turns out it’s actually expanded slate! This stuff looks very promising! Supposedly, one time application does the trick.
Oh wow I like this chic! She’s good at this. Needs a taller tripod tho. Does the mushroom block last or will the natural fungus in the area overtake it after a short time?
Brooke! Very well made, comprehensive video. I grow in terrible clay/loess soil. I use a garden fork, but mainly just pile up compost that I made with lawn clippings/leaves. (In that state to the east of you)
On our farm in Georgia, we use mulch fall leaves, wood ash, and charcoal to amend clay soil. Clay soil needs bio mass to attract worms which truly do the best job. fall leaves does the trick. You also want to attract fungus. break up some wood charcoal and soak it in the water. Afterwards, throw it in your soil. Mix the wood ash in the soil. after you've done everything wait about a month before planting anyting. It should be ready by then. Everything I told can be collected for free. Have animals? It's a big bonus! when you're preparing your grow bed, throw their poop in it! Your plants are going to love in when it ready (1 month).
Set up a shade cloth over the tomatoes and cucumbers and you will see a huge change. The sun ☀️ down in Texas is very hot. It's a black shade cloth you want.
Tomatoe roots get so long n to think my first 2 years I used totes such a waste. I'm thinking thick rooted plants could do so much work like Daikin, turnips, beets, carrots. This year of 4 years gardening I created my first decent sized garden and I'm learning so much about permaculture methods and building up your soil and no til no pull methods. I'm in 8b Corsicana TX.
I'm wondering how close spent mushroom blocks are to mushroom compost? I'm in Washington State first year gardening. Everything I've read and heard mushroom compost is very high in salt its good for tomatoes but not good for all plants.
What do you think about if I start to till as much as I can and adding all of this stuff in an area of my garden for next year. I started a small garden this year but I want to go bigger next year but I want to try to amend the soil and soften it up for next year. Do you think this stuff will survive and amend it throughout the winter
Hello and thank you! Like I have clay. My only concern are the perennial plants and not disturbing or killing then. Would appreciate your advice. Also can this done in the fall? Stay safe
That's not a pitch fork, it's a digging fork aka spading fork. Big difference. You'll bend or break the tines on a pitch fork if you try to do that in clay soil. Pitch forks are for moving things around with large surface area, like unfinished compost, straw, etc. Also, it's easier to work backwards so you don't have to worry about keeping to the side of your forked area. Keeping off of clay soil beds is indeed good practice.
Ive got yellowish ky clay yes i live in Kentucky ha hA Ive been working on my garden spot for about 4 yrs my plants would grown very nice then hard pan clay would do its job kill the plant Ive put kitchen waste leaves paper Rotten wood grass clippings I just added chicken manure plus load of saw dust Ground is still hard after doing this I disk my garden very heavy going To add more leaves plus kitchen Waste in ground but my newest trick was to sew in sod buster radishes ive seen them work in other people's garden Buddy told me they grow good in clay soil add everything to ground So iam see what happens this coming spring
Tillers do not work on my ground; the tines scrap the absolute top and do not penetrate my ground. I have broken many pitch forks attempting to get into the ground. I have even broken and bent pick axe's trying to get into the ground. So........how can I get any organic matter or anything else to assist the ground, into it???
I just amend my clay soil as normal. I do break it up and mix in sand so plants can break through. This helps with carrots and such. You can also put in a little in the hole your planting in.
Don't walk on it..... I think that's bullshit. Girl I loooove you! I actually feel like a good tamp down after resetting a bed really helps with good soil contact. All those good amendments need to be in contact with the soil and the left over plant matter to really break down well!
Double digging and lots of amendments with compost on top ... it's still driving me nuts. Wish I'd gone with raised beds or just tilled it to death my first year.
Unfortunately I don’t have much experience with sandy soil! But I’d recommend finding channels that are based out of coastal areas, they would be a wealth of info!
Probably bullshit lmao. Love it. That a girl. Be blunt and no sugar coating. Most of us folks outside the cities in Alberta here are blunt and honest that way.
Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.
Bad language earned you a thumbs down - keep in mind if you want to make content - moms with kids are going to want to watch it and we don’t appreciate bad language 🤷♀️
Keep in mind if you're going to watch content in front of your kids that isn't marked as "made for kids" that it's not a creators responsibility to consider age appropriate language. It's the internet, not PBS.
Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.
I am delighted to hear you say that building soil is paramount. Mulching, cover crops, leaving plant roots in place are a terrific start, no matter where you are located or soil type
haha..I live in 8B too here in TX...and yes agree. Get your gardening done early or else you're staying in for the rest of the day. Nice weather we're having today though. Temps are in the 70s. Love it!
Clay soil - the bane of many Texas gardener's. On the plus side clay is nutrient dense. On the down side, here it bakes like clay and is not unlike cement to deal with lol. I'll have to check to see if I can get the expanded shale locally. Since I raise red worms I'm lucky to have a ready supply of worm castings (easy to do). As always, great info.
Bakes like clay, I felt that statement in my bones lol because I know exactly what you mean
You can find expanded shale in the form of soil builder at Covington’s, and I bet you can find it at Living Earth if you have a truck. I live in the Dallas area!
Calloway's carries expanded shale too. And Chicken manure.
Good stuff. I amended the very compacted clay soil here with gypsum in the spring, just broadcasting it by hand because I had limited amount and no broadcaster. You can very much tell where areas got more than others. I have some spots in the plot that you could sink into, and others that continually stay cracked and hard. I'm about to plant fall potatoes, and I'm thinking that I'll amend with a little gypsum again before planting to help loosen it all up. Spring potatoes did okay, but they really needed that clay broken up more. I had manually broken up the dirt in a large trench along with the gypsum, added espoma, coffee grounds, and cheap ($2 a bag) topsoil to mix in to just make it loose. It was great in the trench, but it needs more than the trench. (Southern Illinois, 6B)
I’ve heard such good things about gypsum, I resells need to try it!
I love your personality 😅 I have my first house, and it has clay soil. Thank you so much for the tips!
Girl stand up, my lower back hurts just looking at you bending down like that 😩
But then the cleavage is gone...sex sells
Actually I really like it 😅
lit lol
Ahh to be young again...
Use it or lose it
I'm already doing some of those things, but will look into the mushroom stuff. I'm also planning to add chicken manure. There is a brand that doesn't stink called Coop Gro.
Great advice, plants including "weeds" naturally spread macro and micro compost material throughout the soil called roots! Clay soil becomes lovely friable material. In Texas I would drying out is a huge challenge so covering threat top soil is essential. I think minimal compression including walking is important to maintain 25% air that idea soil has. Could I suggest you start aeration at the top of the bed and work back so your standing does not compress what you have just loosened?
Quick heads up...when using a digging fork, or any fork to break up soil, you work backwards...not forward. That way you don't compact the soil you've already broken up...plus it's easier to break up. Otherwise nice video, thanks for sharing.
That actually makes sense! Thanks.
I am one of those do not step in the raised beds fanatics, but you have to when you are amending your soil. And really, if the clay is dry, it is ok to step on it. Compaction occurs when the clay is wet. And expanded clay is really cool, providing aeration and drainage at the same time. I use to use it in my potting mix replacing the perlite. But I can not get it locally anymore. A&M is really high on using it in clay soil, saying you can use up to 50% with clay. You did a really good job on the video. I have extra daikon radish seeds if you want any. It is suppose to be good at breaking up clay soils. Be interesting to see if it really works. Did well on loamy soils when I planted some a couple of years ago.
Thank you!!! 🤗
Soil building systems in Dallas sells expanded shale
Hubby knows what's up (cup of joe). That's love right there...
Wow - I never heard of just lifting the soil up halfway - good idea -
Or we're here because while we don't have clay soil we just like your content ❤ But it is good information for the future if I move to a place with clay soil!
🥰🥹🥰
Awesome video. I love it when you get "no nonsense" like this.
You go girl!!!!
Omg thank you for explaining expanded shale! I also live in the central tx area and my research states using “expanded shale” but I haven’t yet tried it bc, well, nobody has harped on it other than a little blip. Will be going to get these “yummy goodness”. Keep on bringing the content! Thank you for sharing!
I came for the soil info. Subscribed because you are freaking awesome! Very informative and funny!
Instant sub. I love your style, and the video is very helpful. I'm looking forward to watching all your videos.
Thank you!
Wowwww this was so sweet thank you!!
Expanded slate seemed impossible for me to source. Picked up Espoma Soil Perfector at the recommendation of my local nursery the day after watching your video. Turns out it’s actually expanded slate! This stuff looks very promising! Supposedly, one time application does the trick.
Love your style!
I live in San Antonio, Texas
Wow do l have clay
soil 😝😝 great information ❤
Oh wow I like this chic! She’s good at this. Needs a taller tripod tho. Does the mushroom block last or will the natural fungus in the area overtake it after a short time?
Great information ℹ️ nice video 👍
Brooke! Very well made, comprehensive video. I grow in terrible clay/loess soil. I use a garden fork, but mainly just pile up compost that I made with lawn clippings/leaves. (In that state to the east of you)
Thank you 🥰🥰
On our farm in Georgia, we use mulch fall leaves, wood ash, and charcoal to amend clay soil. Clay soil needs bio mass to attract worms which truly do the best job. fall leaves does the trick. You also want to attract fungus. break up some wood charcoal and soak it in the water. Afterwards, throw it in your soil. Mix the wood ash in the soil. after you've done everything wait about a month before planting anyting. It should be ready by then. Everything I told can be collected for free. Have animals? It's a big bonus! when you're preparing your grow bed, throw their poop in it! Your plants are going to love in when it ready (1 month).
amazing info - great stuff - thank you for sharing your wisdom! keep it going!
🥰🥰
Set up a shade cloth over the tomatoes and cucumbers and you will see a huge change. The sun ☀️ down in Texas is very hot. It's a black shade cloth you want.
I wonder if biochar would help
You got a good man…him passing you the coffee was epic
Tomatoe roots get so long n to think my first 2 years I used totes such a waste. I'm thinking thick rooted plants could do so much work like Daikin, turnips, beets, carrots. This year of 4 years gardening I created my first decent sized garden and I'm learning so much about permaculture methods and building up your soil and no til no pull methods. I'm in 8b Corsicana TX.
I'm wondering how close spent mushroom blocks are to mushroom compost? I'm in Washington State first year gardening. Everything I've read and heard mushroom compost is very high in salt its good for tomatoes but not good for all plants.
What do you think about if I start to till as much as I can and adding all of this stuff in an area of my garden for next year. I started a small garden this year but I want to go bigger next year but I want to try to amend the soil and soften it up for next year. Do you think this stuff will survive and amend it throughout the winter
Hello and thank you! Like I have clay. My only concern are the perennial plants and not disturbing or killing then. Would appreciate your advice. Also can this done in the fall? Stay safe
New to your channel but we’re now internet besties 🤣 Great content, thank you so much!
Love your necklace.
Thank you! 🥰
Hey y’all! 💪👍👏👍
Gypsum is what we use to break up clay. Our clay is all over the place in county here in Alabama.
That's not a pitch fork, it's a digging fork aka spading fork. Big difference. You'll bend or break the tines on a pitch fork if you try to do that in clay soil. Pitch forks are for moving things around with large surface area, like unfinished compost, straw, etc. Also, it's easier to work backwards so you don't have to worry about keeping to the side of your forked area. Keeping off of clay soil beds is indeed good practice.
Ive got yellowish ky clay yes i live in Kentucky ha hA
Ive been working on my garden spot for about 4 yrs my plants would grown very nice then hard pan clay would do its job kill the plant
Ive put kitchen waste leaves paper
Rotten wood grass clippings
I just added chicken manure plus load of saw dust
Ground is still hard after doing this
I disk my garden very heavy going
To add more leaves plus kitchen
Waste in ground but my newest trick was to sew in sod buster radishes ive seen them work in other people's garden
Buddy told me they grow good in clay soil add everything to ground
So iam see what happens this coming spring
This is quite the journey, crossing my fingers for you in the spring!!
Tillers do not work on my ground; the tines scrap the absolute top and do not penetrate my ground. I have broken many pitch forks attempting to get into the ground. I have even broken and bent pick axe's trying to get into the ground.
So........how can I get any organic matter or anything else to assist the ground, into it???
till the soil when it's moist.
I just amend my clay soil as normal. I do break it up and mix in sand so plants can break through. This helps with carrots and such. You can also put in a little in the hole your planting in.
So smart thank you for sharing!
After u put Mulch down then what?
For new garden beds on clay soil, use gypsum pellets! This stuff is a mega jump start to breaking it down. Trust me my fellow Texans!
New sub ,like ,bell, 👍central tx area 🤠
Ahhh thank you and welcome 🤗
Don't walk on it..... I think that's bullshit. Girl I loooove you! I actually feel like a good tamp down after resetting a bed really helps with good soil contact. All those good amendments need to be in contact with the soil and the left over plant matter to really break down well!
Double digging and lots of amendments with compost on top ... it's still driving me nuts. Wish I'd gone with raised beds or just tilled it to death my first year.
Any ideas on very sandy soil?
Unfortunately I don’t have much experience with sandy soil! But I’d recommend finding channels that are based out of coastal areas, they would be a wealth of info!
@@WhatBrookeGrows I'm in bastrop lol
I use a thick amount of wood chips n only water as needed the goal is once a week or less
Probably bullshit lmao. Love it. That a girl. Be blunt and no sugar coating. Most of us folks outside the cities in Alberta here are blunt and honest that way.
This made me smile!! 🙂
Can you use just use mushrooms
At around, 13:25 you introduce, “ This” . What is “This”?… I tried to freeze the frame 10 times to try to read the name on the bag.
I give up.
Some weird bat shit based compost I think
❤❤❤
Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.
Hey TEXAS.....clay soil becomes BRICK this time of year.
Deep watering and heavy mulching can help! But yes it is a challenge this time of year with clay soil
Between the traffic noise, the birds, and the music I couldn't focus on what you were whispering 🫤
Be kind to your back madam.
*whispers* I think that’s bullshit. lol
➿
If the humming bird has a pretty colored head...it's a male.
You talk of other things too much 🤭
Bad language earned you a thumbs down - keep in mind if you want to make content - moms with kids are going to want to watch it and we don’t appreciate bad language 🤷♀️
Keep in mind if you're going to watch content in front of your kids that isn't marked as "made for kids" that it's not a creators responsibility to consider age appropriate language. It's the internet, not PBS.
Grow up, bad language is some shit goofy old men taught women and kids. That way men had words only they could use. For real, grow up.
Booo hooo we added five likes to offset your negativity
Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.