I’ve started listening to your channel as I drive into work in the mornings. Even without being able to watch the video, I’m learning so much because you do such a good job explaining. I love it all!
As a novice gardener I was finding all the different types of amendments a little confusing. This was a great video for clearing up some questions I had. Thanks, Jim!
I said the same to my customers. Just a quick note: I worked 10 years at lowes and 14 at home Depot. Most Lowes carry a product called soil conditioner (Pine Bark Fines), located close to the peat. Most Home depots carry Natures helper Pine Bark Fines) also located close to the peat. Soil conditioner comes in a 2 cubic Ft bag and is cheaper than Natures helper which comes in a 1.5 cubic ft. bag. Around Atlanta you can buy it bulk.
Good info. Thank you for that. I went a few weeks ago to both in my area and they hadn't gotten it in yet. I used to get it at depot when I landscaped full time.
Thanks to your videos I am now adding pine soil conditioner to my clay soil and already seeing a difference. I have also noticed since using that most of the shrubs I buy have been grown in the same or a similar product. I love this stuff so much that I am now using it as mulch. It spreads so well and I am hoping it will break down and continue to improve my soil. The Lowe's near me sells Evergreen Pine Soil Conditioner and so far it seems to always be in stock.
Yup! My first year doing a garden has sucked BAD! I did add lime and some compost- clearly not enough 🤦🏻♀️ I have added some raised beds for fall.... and will continue to work on the soil! Thanks
Before finding this channel, I would mix in potting soil with my clay to plant annuals and some bushes. I’ve had what I thought was good luck. I’ve looked before at the big box stores and couldn’t find anything like what you’ve shown here. Thank you for the video as usual!
I truly enjoyed and learned a lot from this video. I just moved from New York City to Missouri so I am a total newbie to gardening. I have a large piece of land now and I am trying to learn. I to have heavy clay soil and was so confused on what to mix with it to make my flowers and shrubs grow. Thank you providing a better understanding to what you use. I have had a few casualties but it has only made me want to learn more now. Thanks for a great video!!!
Very informative as usual. I did not know about peat moss. We are doing some square foot gardening and one of the components of Mel's Mix is peat moss (1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite).
The soil conditioner I buy at Lowes is called Organic Claybreaker. On the bag it says "makes a beautiful mulch". Is it ok to use soil conditioner as mulch? It's nice looking and not dyed like most of the mulches for sale where I live. Or will it not keep the weeds away as well as a typical mulch product?
Jim, sending a big THANK YOU. Bought my first ever bag of cow manure/compost today (woo hoo!) and still no sign of anything remotely like pine bark soil conditioner in stores in my area. But you’ve given me lots of great options to help my heavy clay soils, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in coming vids. Thanks again!
Love your videos, my vegetable garden soil does not absorb water. The top is wet but the water does not go through. I’ve added so much other product with little success. Please help!!
Awesome vids, Jim! Thank you for the info. I wish i found this video before I planted my Yoshino Cherry Tree; we have clay soils and this advise really help a lot in introducing the right combo for the plants. Lesson learned; now i know better after watching this video.
Jim, what would you reccomend for desert clay amendment? I'm in Phoenix Arizona and we've got the hardest, driest clay you could imagine. I've been amending with products labeled 'growmulch' (and some cow manure for the rose bushes as they're turning a bit chlorotic) but unless I'm mixing mostly growmulch - like a 70/30 mix - the clay seems to prevail. Great channel by the way, I just subbed as I recently bought a house with an empty landscape so I'll be here often. Cheers!
I take my trailer and get pine fines/ mushroom compost 50:50. Such a great soil conditioner for my clay soil. Azomite, I always incorporate this into the soil. Years ago I had read it’s good to use it. What is your take on Azomite, could I use something else or just eliminate it? I have to admit I’m not sure what it does. Thank you Jim, another great video!
Do these additives, especially the rich stuff like compost and manure, run the risk of burning a plant if you mix the ammendments in right as you plant the plant? I mean, I hear about digging it in months ahead to let it blend in somewhat so it won't be so harsh. But I have plants coming in a couple weeks and am only prepping now.
As long as you mix all of your amendments well, you can plant immediately. Unless you're buying your products with fertilizer mixed into it, you won't harm your plants and even at that it would take an almost extreme amount to harm the plants. Just water well for the first few weeks after you plant each morning and evening and you're set! Happy planting :)
I have never tried using perlite in the ground. My guess is that it would work great. It is an organic material that would create air pockets in the soil. Be sure to wear a mask when you work with it. The dust is very bad.
Hi Jim, I have compacted clay soil here in Austin, Tx and cannot fine pine bark soil conditioner anywhere... Would perlite be a good substitute, or do you have any other suggestions to amend clay soil?
HortTube, Are you using pine bark fines in place of peat moss? I,m 2 miles from the ocean in N.Car. and forever trying to amend my sandy vegetable garden soil.
Do you know of any place where I could buy fertilizer without the plastic packaging? I have access to a local farm that sells composted cow-manure with out packaging (they just load it in my truck). I'm looking for the same with kelp, greensand, bloodmeal, phosphate... etc. Any tips would be appreciated.
I can’t find this stuff anywhere. I am located in central Indiana. The Lowes here does carry some fine conditioners by Evergreen but I think they are fine hardwood / compost mixes and from the open bag I looked at, it didn’t seem to contain any pine bark. Jim got me hell bent on using this stuff but I just wish I could find it. 🥺
Carrie at Fat Cat Farm Oh, interesting. Then maybe I haven’t seen that at my usual Lowes. I’ll try a few other ones and hopefully they have it. Thanks!
I’ve started listening to your channel as I drive into work in the mornings. Even without being able to watch the video, I’m learning so much because you do such a good job explaining. I love it all!
As a novice gardener I was finding all the different types of amendments a little confusing. This was a great video for clearing up some questions I had. Thanks, Jim!
I said the same to my customers. Just a quick note: I worked 10 years at lowes and 14 at home Depot. Most Lowes carry a product called soil conditioner (Pine Bark Fines), located close to the peat. Most Home depots carry Natures helper Pine Bark Fines) also located close to the peat. Soil conditioner comes in a 2 cubic Ft bag and is cheaper than Natures helper which comes in a 1.5 cubic ft. bag. Around Atlanta you can buy it bulk.
Good info. Thank you for that. I went a few weeks ago to both in my area and they hadn't gotten it in yet. I used to get it at depot when I landscaped full time.
Thanks to your videos I am now adding pine soil conditioner to my clay soil and already seeing a difference. I have also noticed since using that most of the shrubs I buy have been grown in the same or a similar product. I love this stuff so much that I am now using it as mulch. It spreads so well and I am hoping it will break down and continue to improve my soil. The Lowe's near me sells Evergreen Pine Soil Conditioner and so far it seems to always be in stock.
Great job Jim explaining all the different soil amendments.
Yup! My first year doing a garden has sucked BAD! I did add lime and some compost- clearly not enough 🤦🏻♀️ I have added some raised beds for fall.... and will continue to work on the soil! Thanks
Before finding this channel, I would mix in potting soil with my clay to plant annuals and some bushes. I’ve had what I thought was good luck. I’ve looked before at the big box stores and couldn’t find anything like what you’ve shown here. Thank you for the video as usual!
This was so informative! Thanks very much. Wish I had known so much of this YEARS ago.
I truly enjoyed and learned a lot from this video. I just moved from New York City to Missouri so I am a total newbie to gardening. I have a large piece of land now and I am trying to learn. I to have heavy clay soil and was so confused on what to mix with it to make my flowers and shrubs grow. Thank you providing a better understanding to what you use. I have had a few casualties but it has only made me want to learn more now. Thanks for a great video!!!
Glad to help. Good luck with everything.
Very informative as usual. I did not know about peat moss. We are doing some square foot gardening and one of the components of Mel's Mix is peat moss (1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite).
The soil conditioner I buy at Lowes is called Organic Claybreaker. On the bag it says "makes a beautiful mulch". Is it ok to use soil conditioner as mulch? It's nice looking and not dyed like most of the mulches for sale where I live. Or will it not keep the weeds away as well as a typical mulch product?
Excellent video. Very informative.
Good info keeps getting better every video thanks!!
Thanks.
Jim, sending a big THANK YOU. Bought my first ever bag of cow manure/compost today (woo hoo!) and still no sign of anything remotely like pine bark soil conditioner in stores in my area. But you’ve given me lots of great options to help my heavy clay soils, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in coming vids. Thanks again!
Love your videos, my vegetable garden soil does not absorb water. The top is wet but the water does not go through. I’ve added so much other product with little success. Please help!!
Thank you because I keep hear all the rave about bumper crop, yet I wonder. And I always get nervous when I see something being sold like on QVC.
I like claybreaker from lowes, daddy pete's plant pleaser planting mix and biotone when I do my plantings in the ground.
Good information. In Raleigh you can get pine bark soul conditioner at Home Depot
Awesome vids, Jim! Thank you for the info. I wish i found this video before I planted my Yoshino Cherry Tree; we have clay soils and this advise really help a lot in introducing the right combo for the plants. Lesson learned; now i know better after watching this video.
I'm glad to help. Thanks for watching.
My clay is super alkaline. So I added peat moss, gypsum, perlite, vermiculite, acidified, chicken manure.
Jim, what would you reccomend for desert clay amendment? I'm in Phoenix Arizona and we've got the hardest, driest clay you could imagine. I've been amending with products labeled 'growmulch' (and some cow manure for the rose bushes as they're turning a bit chlorotic) but unless I'm mixing mostly growmulch - like a 70/30 mix - the clay seems to prevail. Great channel by the way, I just subbed as I recently bought a house with an empty landscape so I'll be here often. Cheers!
I take my trailer and get pine fines/ mushroom compost 50:50. Such a great soil conditioner for my clay soil. Azomite, I always incorporate this into the soil. Years ago I had read it’s good to use it. What is your take on Azomite, could I use something else or just eliminate it? I have to admit I’m not sure what it does. Thank you Jim, another great video!
its funny the things you say, I say the same things to my customers, (top soil)
I'm in southern New Jersey and can't find the pine bark fines anywhere. Appreciate any suggestions. Thx
Do these additives, especially the rich stuff like compost and manure, run the risk of burning a plant if you mix the ammendments in right as you plant the plant? I mean, I hear about digging it in months ahead to let it blend in somewhat so it won't be so harsh. But I have plants coming in a couple weeks and am only prepping now.
As long as you mix all of your amendments well, you can plant immediately. Unless you're buying your products with fertilizer mixed into it, you won't harm your plants and even at that it would take an almost extreme amount to harm the plants. Just water well for the first few weeks after you plant each morning and evening and you're set! Happy planting :)
Good info!
Hi Jim. I have clay soil. How about adding gypsum to the mix for my planting hole?
Would a compost perlite mix work for shrubs and heavy clay? To reduce the acidity levels getting to high over time when the pine bark decomposes?
I have never tried using perlite in the ground. My guess is that it would work great. It is an organic material that would create air pockets in the soil. Be sure to wear a mask when you work with it. The dust is very bad.
Hi Jim, I have compacted clay soil here in Austin, Tx and cannot fine pine bark soil conditioner anywhere... Would perlite be a good substitute, or do you have any other suggestions to amend clay soil?
Yes, it will work fine. Needs to be tilled in or incorporated when planting.
Great job first timer really enjoyed listing to someone that knows the subject Tom from7a
HortTube, Are you using pine bark fines in place of peat moss? I,m 2 miles from the ocean in N.Car. and forever trying to amend my sandy vegetable garden soil.
We have clay soils on our side of interstate 95. We have a different fight than you have. You can use peat or compost.
HortTube, Thank you for the reply.
Do you know of any place where I could buy fertilizer without the plastic packaging? I have access to a local farm that sells composted cow-manure with out packaging (they just load it in my truck). I'm looking for the same with kelp, greensand, bloodmeal, phosphate... etc. Any tips would be appreciated.
Does top soil have weed seeds?
Evergreen makes a Soil Conditioner that is fines. Lowes sells it.
I can’t find this stuff anywhere. I am located in central Indiana. The Lowes here does carry some fine conditioners by Evergreen but I think they are fine hardwood / compost mixes and from the open bag I looked at, it didn’t seem to contain any pine bark. Jim got me hell bent on using this stuff but I just wish I could find it. 🥺
@@danroot84 it will say specifically, SOIL CONDITIONER on the bag.
Carrie at Fat Cat Farm Oh, interesting. Then maybe I haven’t seen that at my usual Lowes. I’ll try a few other ones and hopefully they have it. Thanks!
Your links in the description box don't work!😒 it's saying
"Not Found" 404 Error code.
pinebark, pinebark, pinebark... You talk so much about it, and even admit that it's hard to find, so why not offer alternatives?
It's not hard to find in my area, but people tell me they can't find it.
Horse shit. It's good for the soil. 😀