From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pittsburgh, PA

Are they really necessary? And go!

3/17/2019 10:01:36 PM

Westmoreland, KS

The running joke around my place when my family and friends come over..."Jacob can we walk on this dirt?" The answer is no if you are in my greenhouse!

3/17/2019 10:24:34 PM

Syracuse, NY

a quick reevaluation of your friend's status when he stands there and says 'Oh, look how squishy the soil is!";
"!!!Get the...!!!"...

3/17/2019 10:46:05 PM

Topsfield, MA

Yes. Very necessary

3/18/2019 3:31:36 AM

Alex, IN

In my opinion it varies based on your soil. If you have very sandy soil that is easily re-loosened then maybe not. If you have a low-high amount of clay then walk boards are extremely important.

3/18/2019 6:28:31 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Yes, especially when wet and you'll at least keep compaction limited to the board areas. Without boards you'd compact the entire patch by year end, and even the board areas aren't that bad due to distributing the body weight.

I also use stepping stones in hard to get to spots. In those areas I only use the stones and it can be a balancing act. Under the stone becomes compacted, but the other 90% of the area is flawless soft ground up to October like it was in April.

3/18/2019 8:43:51 AM

Ontario

Plywood shoes

3/18/2019 9:17:13 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Walking boards are required to grow a big one...no doubt...

3/18/2019 9:18:30 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you have a patch that can flood, like mine does about once in 20 years, walking boards can float away. My soil is silt with very little clay, and foot tracks can be easily fluffed up with a pointed hoe. I do use boards in the heavy traffic area around the stump and sometimes a path in to the pumpkin. And I no longer till up the whole patch all at once. I do smaller areas ahead of the plant and mainly use just a long tine fork. I smash the clods with the tines after turning the soil and that is it. By not beating the soil to dust with the tiller, I don't mess up the soil structure much, and my worm population has exploded. Any clods mellow out with the first rain and don't turn into bricks. I know that won't work on most soils, but it works for me. I haven't gotten much beyond 1000#, but that is not a compaction problem. I have had many on a pace to beat the state record only to lose them to disease, bugs or mice.

3/18/2019 9:47:31 AM

Central Illinois

when you walk in the woods you can hear leaves and twigs breaking under your feet,same thing happens to your roots

3/18/2019 9:50:52 AM

Weatherman

Make some Patch Shoes.

3/18/2019 10:06:22 AM

Boscawen, NH

Have never used walking boards but what might work in my patch may not apply to yours.

3/18/2019 11:11:27 AM

Hopedale Ohio

grower's using them... do you start with boards as soon as seedlings are put out ?

3/18/2019 12:03:34 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I’ve made fun of people for wearing Patch shoes and then build myself a pair both in the same year. They are especially nice so that you can walk directly behind your teller. But not so great around the plant. Walking boards in heavily trail traveled Areas around the plants are a big help. My general thought about using Boards remains the same as it always was: the boards are helpful unless staying on them is causing you to not take as good care of your plants. If you need to venture off of the board Now and then then do it. You can’t be so worried about compaction that basic things don’t get done.

3/18/2019 4:20:10 PM

Hopedale Ohio

Hey Dr Compost how do you make your patch shoes

3/18/2019 4:57:43 PM

Morgantown, WV

I use treated decking and to be honest it's just a bit skinny. When I replace them, I may try ripping plywood a bit wider for more stability.

That said, I typically do not have soilborne diseases. If I had a soggy or disease prone patch, I'd be worried of harboring nasties in wood that stays wet all year. Would be looking maybe at patch shoes then as they'd be easier to change out often.

3/18/2019 8:42:47 PM

Muddy Waters

Sandy soil does not compact. Plain & simple. If you dont believe it? go pound sand!

3/18/2019 10:50:46 PM

aurora, IL

I like using walking boards. Best if you can elevate them, so the plants can grow underneath them.

3/18/2019 11:18:30 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

I use them all over the patch, even around my tomato plants, but life would be so much easier without them.

3/18/2019 11:56:30 PM

Syracuse, NY

I have Home Depot or Lowe's cut a 4' x 8' x 5/8-inch sheet of plywood into 6 pieces @ 16 inches X 4 feet long each. the hardest thing about it is conveying that idea to whomever is cutting it to my specs...and it's not THEIR fault! i doubt that anything skinnier does any good at reducing compaction by a whole lot, just MHO. maybe i should try 8' divided by 7 = 13.7 inches, for one more piece and to better fit between my side vines...hmmm...eg..that was my calculator's LAST equation---never twist one, lol---

3/19/2019 2:08:16 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Low carb diet helps too, forget the bread and beer and drink whiskey.

3/19/2019 8:33:21 AM

Hopedale Ohio

Thank you all for the input, lots of clay here. A special THANKS to Mr Bubba Presley, whenever I'm having a bummer day I just check out you're posts and get a look at the hair, shades and dental work and it always brings a smile. I'm still waiting to see the diamond covered jump suit! Rock On !!

3/19/2019 9:15:28 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Nothing beats a mid June pollination... you’re playing with fire outdoors here if trying to pollinate in July. Literally! But then again a late or cold spring can show up bringing growth to a stall in early May. I’ll be watching everybody - good luck!

3/20/2019 2:20:20 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Low carb diet and whiskey it is for me!

3/20/2019 3:49:00 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Lol, sorry. My last reply was to Jake’s start date thread.

3/20/2019 4:42:22 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Osb plywood is cheap and I cut mine down into rectangles maybe 2 x 3 or so ish.. ya I have a lot of them stack on a pallet and go put in the back yard..

3/20/2019 7:59:51 PM