Propagation: Propagation: part XIV based on my own experience, 1 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Good afternoon:
I was watching a garden show put on pbs by our extention office on gardening. They were talking about planting perrienials and trees in the landscape. I am chatting about this because they made a point to discuss the planting and that it is important to NOT amend the soil going back into the planting hole. They said " amending the soil can cause disease and root rot to happen easier" . This goes against everything I have been taught on plants.
I have a feeling it most likely does not apply to those with a heavy sand based planting area, like linda out in south carolina. Their soils can be nothing but sand and they need some organic matter mixed in to help in moisture retention. I found this to be true in my personal planting I did in south florida. it was tough to find much organic matter in the soil (sand). Personally I like to use peat moss (coir also), some slow release fertilizer and a minor element fertilize that is organic in form. (Milorganite)
I have yet to find any available here in tulsa. Its made from the reclaming of organic matter from the waste treatment facilities of milwakee wisconsin. I know euhhh yuck and many other things come to mind. Its a safe product which I used extensively. It was so safe we would put a hand full in the planting hole right where the rootball would touch. now I have not tried it on small plant starts so use with caution there, but as a topdress fertilizer for turf or landscape plants I recomend it. Oh yea I used to wash my hands after use and if I had a cut on my hand I would not touch it... call me parinoid but Its made me feel better.
We used to say it did not matter how much you put in the hole as it would not burn. well we had one consumer who put 50 pounds of the stuff in the whole where he was planting a (tropical) hibiscus. very interesting story. I just found where I can get it for our yard so I will be using it on my yard.
Here is a link to it.
http://www.milorganite.com/home/faqs.cfm

here is a pic of my siberian wall fliower seedlings
have a great afternoon
Dave