Soil Cocktails

"A 50c plant in a $5.00 hole" is a saying most gardeners have heard. When you are planting its extremely important to amend your soil.

I like to think of it is a "soil cocktail". Given the amount of clay in my yard, area adding organic material to the soil is essential to the health (or life) of my plants. For every plant or shrub I install, I add a mixture of top soil, mushroom (or homemade garden) compost, and black cow. I like to scoop the materials straight from the bags and toss them in a large plastic pot before mixing them with the soil I've removed while digging my hole. I sometimes also layer my cocktail mixture and the original hole's dirt as part of the planting job.

I often end up with extra soil from the original hole that I dug out (Not sure if anyone else has this problem). I used to have a hard time disposing of all of my "extra dirt". Recently, I've starting using it to make my ring shaped mounds around my plants to help them capture and hold water. Clay works especially well for this purpose since its easily molded.

Got any planting to soil amendment tips? Click comment below and let's hear 'em!