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Soil Sample and New Soil Question #869742

Asked May 23, 2024, 10:29 AM EDT

Hi- I got some top soil from a landscape supply and it is very very sandy. This is what I sent. I've added peat and some other materials in there to help. I got 3 yards of 50/50 pro blend garden mix from Hammond Farms, half top and half compost. I'm adding a new tiered system that I bought the dirt for, but I have been kind of hunking out the raised bed soil because I just knew it wasn't great. I've attached the results. Any ways, I've been filling the bottoms of my pods with the garden dirt I had and then fill the rest with the 50/50 mix. So now I have huge hunks of dirt missing in the garden, to which I was going to apply the 50/50 blend to up the nutrients in the places I've hunked out. I do not know the nutrient content of the blend from Hammond's but I'm sure with compost it will improve the soil....so will adding the recommended fertilizer in the report over fertilize the raised beds with both being added. I'll only replace what I can to fill the bottoms of the other project, so less than 40% will be changed out. I hope that makes sense!

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

Ashley - in reviewing your soil test results, I can see that your soil is very healthy with the exception of Potassium that is Below Optimum.  Since Phosphorous binds readily with the soil, we do not recommend you add it unless you are starting a newly seeded lawn.

So, lightly adding Nitrogen for the plant uptake should be fine but without knowing the nutrients in the Hammond soil, I would suggest you wait after that and see if the plants are flourishing.  There probably is some organic matter in the Hammond soil which will help with the plant growth and the Potassium.  Soil can be too rich for plants to grow but if that is the case, with time the nutrients will will be taken up by the plants or wash through the soil.  After planting, I would wait a couple of weeks before applying any further fertilizer.

Good job starting with a soil test to know the health of your soil.  Hope that helps!

Diane - MSU Advanced Extension Master Gardener Replied May 25, 2024, 7:57 PM EDT

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