Ted Shoemaker wrote:
Hello,

The soil in our yard appears to need nitrogen and calcium. The stuff
I've read, and the advice I've been told, says to add soil amendments.


How do you know this?

How?

Okay. I'm far from an expert. Let's start at the beginning.

If I add something like dolomite (for calcium), I'm told that will
kill microinvertebrates and make the lawn dependent on chemical
fertilizers indefinitely. I don't want that!

Firstly don't add dolomite to improve just calcium, it contains calcium and
magnesium which need to be kept in balance. Generally dolomite is used
where both calcium and magnesium are required and to change the balance
towards magnesium. Instead add garden lime (calcium carbonate) if you want
to raise the pH or gypsum (calcium sulphate) if you don't want to change the
pH. All these are natural minerals which have been used by gardeners for
centuries.

Secondly the microflora will not be killed by adding any of these is
sensible quantities. Yes you could cause damage by changing the pH very
quickly by adding something like builder's lime (calcium hydroxide) but you
don't want to do that. Adding reasonable amounts of dolomite or garden lime
will not make your lawn dependent on chemicals. I don't know where this
idea of dependency comes from.

Nitrogen can be added in many ways, I prefer bird manure (pelletised chicken
manure is commonly available) but synthetic fertilisers will do the job
without causing the last trumpet to sound. Be warned that synthetics are
more concentrated and so can be over done easily and nitrogen compounds
leach out quickly if the soil structure is poor. This will waste your money
and pollute the nearby waterways.


So let's add compost. But, in order to add enough calcium in compost
form, I'd have to add several inches (in vertical depth) of of
compost. That would smother the lawn. Nope. Not gonna do it. I
don't want to re-plant the lawn.


Compost is good for depleted soil for many reasons but it will not increase
calcium very much if at all.

Obviously I can't believe everything I hear or read.

What do you suggest?

Thank you.


Ted where did you get this information? Have you tested the pH? If not do
so before you act.

David