Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jun 18, 2010 1:42 pm I had planned to get some fine compost and top dress my lawn with it come spring time but after reading Fu's mulch thread I am now thinking this may encourage the grass roots to develop too close to the surface as they search for the goodies, and also the compost close to the surface may hold water. Is this the case Fu? Is there a way to replenish or boost the organic content of lawn soil without having this occur ? John Colwill was promoting mowing lawn without the catcher on, ie letting clippings fall onto the lawn, but I am not keen on doing that in winter as I do have a few winter weeds and am scared of spreading the seed. Anyone got any suggestions ? I am already puting out the dissolved stuff ie seasol/pf/molasses, but as my lawn is already established I didn't get an oportunity to blend in organic soil with my sand. Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 2Jun 18, 2010 6:51 pm keen, I think Fu mentioned Naked Farmer http://www.nakedfarmer.com.au/. Apparently, you guys in the west can get it in bulk. In the eastern states, it's only available in 25 litre bags at $10/bag - ouch! Hope I got the info right Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 3Jun 18, 2010 7:54 pm Na it turns out is available to wholesale landscapers in Bulk in Melbourne only. Here in the wonderful west it is only available in bags. With regard to lawns and organic composts, yes they will have richer soil at the top but look at the options. There is no other option and in the case of turf it will be consumed fast enough. Like soil amendments, better than not at all but best as part of soil prep Your options with lawns is to not put any organic compost on and make your lawn an expensive fertiliser addict. I know what I would choose. Soil amendments are also going to be very good and some goods ones are found in shades of green fertiliser. They of course can be bought separately and over time will work deeper into the soil (a very long time) like wise with the organic compost. Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 5Jun 18, 2010 8:06 pm Eco min? What have I written? Bentonite clay, spongolite, zeolite, sand remedy type things as well as organic composts. Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 6Jun 19, 2010 9:29 pm I had a thought on this thread today while I was stuck in traffic. Lawns are a very high performance part of any landscape. They have very dense foliage cover and it is that cover that changes the way rich soils act. They still will do the same in a small way but with such dense foliage you are not getting quiet the same thing. Raking organic compost into a lawn is a shed load better than the alternatives. This is why we need denser planting in gardens. The mulch then is not the feature of a garden. This is something I am bewildered about when I drive home on a Saturday tired and weary. I see people standing back admiring what in the garden? Mulch! That's what! I don't get it? I mean how can mulch be the feature? The plants are the feature To me it is the equivalent of when a cat has a poo and then scratches around it and says to people, "look at that, I did that" in cat language. I think it is the only thing about cats that dogs like! But I see it everywhere If ever you are gardening and some crazed idiot drives past with a trailer on the back on the footpath ranting out the window,, yep, It'll be me Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 7Aug 17, 2010 11:36 pm Keen you can try coring the lawn and raking in organic composts. Over time this will get organic soil deeper in and improve the overall health. Re: How to boost organic content of lawn soil ? 8Aug 18, 2010 4:43 am Compost the clippings and use the tea. Digest the clippings in a 300lt plas tank sealed and water. Digester takes 12 days but produces methane gas in small doses for 300lt. The digestate is rich organic wet mulch and tea. Spread that around and anything green will love you. Methane math. 1 tonne dry mass = 1200 kw (or equivalent). If Fu was collecting 4 tonnes of mass per week he could be selling electricity. (hint) In 300 lt your yield would be that of a candle burning for 10 days. That aside, its a very fast process as the bacteria are in constant solution in almost ideal conditions so are always active. Aerobic digestion - compost is awesome but the bacteria / fungi synergy is not nearly as quick. the leaves that are now underground go yellow, the tips that poke through photosynthesise and have chlorophyll, same reason they grow rhubarb in the dark. 5 4870 I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13099 We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37143 |