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| We moved to a new house (southern california) and the previous owners never did any gardening. They had 3 dogs which used to be outside most of the time. Prior to planning a garden, should we address the urine residues that might be in the soil? Any other soil mix-in we can put to essentially get the garden started right?
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| What kind of soil, other than a "barren soil with dog pee" do you have? Sand? Clay? Loam? How much, if any, organic matter is in that soil? How well does that soil drain? How well does that soil retain moisture? What kind of life is in that soil? What is the ph of that soil? What nutrients are in that soil? Find your local office of the University of California Cooperative Exztension Services and ask things such as where can I get my soil tested for pH and nutrients and have that done and then dig in wqith these simple soil tests, 1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains� too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. to see what more needs be done. |
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| .. The dog pee = nothing. Focus on the issues kimmsr raised instead. Here in Ventura county near the coast, I'd be planting California Rye and figuring out the rest later. The California Rye will like the coming rains and will largely die off by the end of next fall. When it's finally mature enough to mow, just mulch it back to the turf once you are mowing regularly. Talk to the locals. Look at what's around you. Be wary that somethings will need a lot of water come summer. to sense |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr 5 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 19, 12 at 13:11
| Pee is completely water soluble (probably goes without saying) as well as biodegradable, so it will not hang round after a few weeks and a few rains. |
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| Actually, urine carries salts that come out of suspension rather quickly. Try storing a quart in a clear milk jug and you'll see the brown precipitate around the bottom. Sodium and chlorine ions are major urine solutes, so salt will form easily. Rain will wash it away, so you'd need a lot to cause long term problems. |
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