salt (?) crust on soil

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Gaysie Pleasant Hill, CA Dec 09, 2008

My veggie bed is beginning to develop a white 'bloom' on the top of the soil. I asssme it is a salt. Is it from the water in my area? Do I need to treat it? What do I do to treat? Thanks in advance.

Post #5874660
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 10, 2008

It's probably salt buildup, either from hard water or from fertilizer buildup. Given the time of year, the winter rains (assuming we get some more of course!) will probably be more effective than anything you could do at flushing excess salts out of the soil. If you're done growing for the year, then you might consider replacing the top layer of soil with some fresh topsoil and mix in a bunch of nice compost to get things ready for next year.

Post #5876675
Quote
Gaysie Pleasant Hill, CA Dec 12, 2008

Thanks. Sionce this is new soil I will assume the salts came from the garden hose water. Anything I need to worry about?

Post #5884967
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 12, 2008

How quickly did it build up? If it took a whole season to get that way and if your veggies did fine then I wouldn't worry, but if it happened in a very short time period then maybe there's something else going on (in which case it would help if you could post a picture of the white stuff you're seeing)

Post #5885401
Quote
JulieQ Bella Vista, AR(Zone 6b) Dec 12, 2008

When you say "salt" do you mean any minerals or truly sodium chloride salt? I was thinking calcium...???

Post #5885558
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 13, 2008

Salt is a generic term for a variety of different compounds, sodium chloride is one example of a salt but there are many others. In this case it would not be sodium chloride, most likely it's a mixture of things that come from having hard water.

Post #5886414
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP