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Zurich, Ontario Canada

My soil in the patch has developed a crust. I waited until it was dry and was going to airate it with a cultivator rake. Right away I noticed the shallow roots that I was damaging so I stopped. Is it more important to air out the ground or just leave it alone. I know roots have to breath but at what expence???? Any insight!!!!!

6/14/2012 8:02:08 PM

Littlerock, WA

If I were you I'd contact John Taberna at Western Labs. He spoke at our club's spring seminar and discussed surface crusting and how to avoid it. Although I don't remember exactly what he said, it would be worth your while to talk with him, as he's a soil scientist and can point you in the right direction.

6/15/2012 12:40:33 AM

Baker City Oregon

I had a crusting problem too and a guy who works for Simplot helped interpret my soil test. He was amazed at the amount of lime in my soil. It was at 3.1 and should have been .3 . He told me the clay particles bond with the lime and make the crust. Mine was about 1/2 inch thick. It also causes the trace minerals to be tied up where the plants can't access them. My trace minerals were so high that they were almost to the point of toxicity. The solution,which is not a quick fix, was to add 5 lbs. of elemental sulfer per 1000 sq. ft.(recommended by Western Labs. who did my test). I did this and have not had the crusting like i had. This guy told me that this was a common problem of western soils. Western Labs. out of Parma Idaho has a great website with some very helpful tutorials.

6/15/2012 1:30:52 AM

Baker City Oregon

Also check out "Pests. Disease and Other Problems" on this message board. Look for the post by 'Pumkinman Dan' on 5/17/2012.

6/15/2012 1:39:48 AM