I have been digging in the ground a lot here lately and I left with all these balls of soil so chalky I cant get it back into the hole. I planted four or five trees here lately So today I bought some of that Play-sand... I could not find any other kind ... My intention is to mix it in with the soil to break it down and smooth it out. Is this a bad thing? Am I going to regret doing this? I got special hoses going to the trees in hopes the water will make it go back into the hole. but its still all lumpy. What should I do? Thank God for rain ... I need a lot more of it.
Texas Chalky soil
I would add compost, not sand. We used mushroom compost and cotton burr compost as well as some "home grown" compost from our compost pile in the backyard. A couple of years ago, in one of our flower beds, we also added a little bit of lava sand. The soil has enough clay-like tendencies, so you want to make it lighter so the earthworms can do their thing and the soil will drain instead of holding water and becoming a big mud slide.
Stephanie
Sylvia ~ I would say no to the sand if these clumps are actually clay based. They add sand to our clay based roads here and it packs so hard it is like concrete. I don't think it will help your situation.
Also, it will prevent the moisture from staying near the roots of the plants. As Stephanie said, adding mulch or compost will be far better.
As a side note, there are certain times of the moon when there is too much soil to go back in a hole and others when there is not enough. It has to do with the moisture level in the soil. Might be part of what's going on...
I agree with Stephanie. Add compost (cottor burr, shredded leaves, mulched newspaper, coffee grounds, corn meal) and let the earthworms and beneficial nematodes loosen up the soil for you.
Carla
Sylvia ~ this is an interesting thread in tropicals that may actually help improve your soil in the future... Worth a read http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/828480/#new
Thanks Guys!!! you caught me just in time! My lady at the HD just informed that they have a new Mushroom compost, I am going to go there today and get some. I was just looking at my coffee grinds this morning and thought about it. I will add it too. luckily my soil is full of worms, and I have no problem with plants growing at all ... its just that I hate digging in it because I cant put the soil back in the hole.
All these coops, I got so much to plant, my poor yard man is always reminding me of how old he is ... think he is trying to tell me something? LOL
Oh I am so glad I got you guys to steer me straight!
Thanks a loads!