Hi guys, I have a couple of days off here, and was going to put in another plot, and help my brother in law who just bought a home put a garden and some beds in there.
I was wondering, is it possible to OVER-DO the organics? We have access to some fresh horse bedding, cattle bedding from a local auction place, a lot of free stuff from the landfill (all the wood chips and grass and leaf clippings they pick up in the fall). I was thinking that we might just till as much of all of it as possible into the soil. Then let it "rest" for a couple months (or maybe until next season).
Does this "shotgun" approach to gardening work? The soils in question are already pretty good, but it would be nice to build it into that stuff you see in all the books! Also, in "Square foot gardening" (by mel bartholomew), he said that the first thing he tells any new gardener is to get some vermiculite to improve structure and drainage.
What do you think, just go ahead and bomb the garden plot with a ton of organics, let it rest, then plant it? that's how top soil forms in nature.
How long does it take for the breakdown to re-release nitrogen? any thoughts? thanks john