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Much as I dobn't like soil testing if you are panning on a plantation, it may be in order for blueberries. You are talking about tons of bark mulch or sawdust per acre. Even for a hobby planting bales per plant of peat.
IMO use cheaper stuph whatz acidic than peat.
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quote: Originally posted by wd8izh:
If you live near a coniferous woods (pine forest), rake up as many pine needles (and debri) as you can and pile that on. That is what I am doing here and my blueberries are thriving.
Do you work it in the soil or just on top? |
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| Posts: 835 | Location: NE US | Registered: February 11, 2008 | |
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3 years ago now I dug a 3.8 cubic foot bale of peat moss into a planting bed 4 feet by 4 feet that had a soil pH of 5.7 to lower that for a blueberry bush. Last spring I had the soil in that bed tested and the pH was 7.2, and the peat moss was the only stuff added. The guys on Victory Garden have been stating lately that the reason they add peat moss to soil is because it never gets digested so if that is what happens, the soil bacteria will not touch the stuff, how could it make any difference in soil pH? Since we know that adding pine needles and Oak leaves do not significantly change a soils pH why would peat moss?
The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees.
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| Posts: 2187 | Location: Central Michigan along the Lakeshore | Registered: August 28, 2004 | |
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quote: Originally posted by Kimm1:
3 years ago now I dug a 3.8 cubic foot bale of peat moss into a planting bed 4 feet by 4 feet that had a soil pH of 5.7 to lower that for a blueberry bush. Last spring I had the soil in that bed tested and the pH was 7.2, and the peat moss was the only stuff added. The guys on Victory Garden have been stating lately that the reason they add peat moss to soil is because it never gets digested so if that is what happens, the soil bacteria will not touch the stuff, how could it make any difference in soil pH? Since we know that adding pine needles and Oak leaves do not significantly change a soils pH why would peat moss?
Thanks for the test results. Did you ever get the PH lower with other amendments? |
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| Posts: 835 | Location: NE US | Registered: February 11, 2008 | |
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quote: Originally posted by anndigitalis:
I just received 2 bare root blueberries, which I potted up in 50% peat 50% compost. I'm topdressing with coffee grounds, I have to pick up from the deli tomorrow, and then top that with pine bark mulch. We'll see how they like it. They havent leafed out yet but the leaves will tell the story.
Anne
what do the leaves have to say about the right acid mix? |
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| Posts: 835 | Location: NE US | Registered: February 11, 2008 | |
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