This is a project I thought up after planting seeds and seedlings in the ground for the last 2 years with mixed results in germination and damping off (learned lots already from mistakes made) I'm doing a lot of seedling cutting projects with JBP and have a growing interest in maples and potential ROR projects with them. All that said I wanted to build something that I could test a few different soil options that would mildly reflect growing in the ground; and the benefits of that strong growth, without all the hassle of fighting the clay out of the roots later due to the soil in my area. That all said here's what I did:
First I covered a 9'x25' area with Dewitt 20 year nursery level weed barrier cloth. It allows water to drain through freely, but no hassle of weeding. This will serve me in the current project as well as future ground planting projects. For this one it will simply be the bottom of my raised bed, allowing the water to run through but no weeds or dirt come up into my soil mixed, also blocking the roots from going into the real soil.
I have 2 grades of crushed haydite (expanded shale). It is slightly porous so it has some water retention but still allows free drainage.
This is a 6'x6' (11" walls) square divided into fourths. I wanted to test the growth rates and health of the trees based on 2 variables, particle size and organic vs. no-organic mixed in. [in the background you will see a failed overly ambitious yew I tried to collect, yay learning from failure!]
I bought these in bulk to serve as pots later on, but they're good for watering off soil too.
There was plenty of dust on the stone when I picked it up from the aggregates company in the bed of the pick-up. So I needed to wash all the dust off so it didn't make a grimy layer at the bottom to block drainage.
Just basic compost material with some manure.
After a few hours and a sore back from washing I filled all the areas up.
1. Large particle
2. Small particle
3. Large particle + compost mix (1/1)
4. Small particle + compost mix (1/1)
Just a simple Design of Experiment I felt like running to learn the effects of each variable. I doubt I'll go so far as to run MiniTab statistics on the results... just want a feel for how each performs. In the end I'd like to see how roots and foliage develop in each option to know the pros and cons. During the winter this will also serve as my over wintering location. I intend to build a roof over it and cover it with translucent plastic during the winter to keep it cool but not too cold and block the wind .
Thoughts? Questions? Advice?
First I covered a 9'x25' area with Dewitt 20 year nursery level weed barrier cloth. It allows water to drain through freely, but no hassle of weeding. This will serve me in the current project as well as future ground planting projects. For this one it will simply be the bottom of my raised bed, allowing the water to run through but no weeds or dirt come up into my soil mixed, also blocking the roots from going into the real soil.
I have 2 grades of crushed haydite (expanded shale). It is slightly porous so it has some water retention but still allows free drainage.
This is a 6'x6' (11" walls) square divided into fourths. I wanted to test the growth rates and health of the trees based on 2 variables, particle size and organic vs. no-organic mixed in. [in the background you will see a failed overly ambitious yew I tried to collect, yay learning from failure!]
I bought these in bulk to serve as pots later on, but they're good for watering off soil too.
There was plenty of dust on the stone when I picked it up from the aggregates company in the bed of the pick-up. So I needed to wash all the dust off so it didn't make a grimy layer at the bottom to block drainage.
Just basic compost material with some manure.
After a few hours and a sore back from washing I filled all the areas up.
1. Large particle
2. Small particle
3. Large particle + compost mix (1/1)
4. Small particle + compost mix (1/1)
Just a simple Design of Experiment I felt like running to learn the effects of each variable. I doubt I'll go so far as to run MiniTab statistics on the results... just want a feel for how each performs. In the end I'd like to see how roots and foliage develop in each option to know the pros and cons. During the winter this will also serve as my over wintering location. I intend to build a roof over it and cover it with translucent plastic during the winter to keep it cool but not too cold and block the wind .
Thoughts? Questions? Advice?
