Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies Inc.

Kevin Donnelly CH Horticultural Soil Scientist

Ryan Wagner MT Sales Representative

soil_photo, credit: http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov]

Landscape Soils Management

• Know your soil, Know Success

• Make soils a part of the plan

• Tips on selling the “soil” component of landscape projects

Your Take Home Today

What Can Go Wrong

• Poor quality plants

• Poor plant selection

• Improper

maintenance

• Poor soil conditions

http://www.phillipsgardens.co.uk/gallery.html

Soil Best Management Practices

• Needs to be site specific• There are some generalities, but you need tailor it to the

needs of the project

• Test, Test, Test

• Plan for the soil• We should put as much care into soil health as we do

plant selection and placement

On Site BMPs• New Construction• Retain and protect native topsoil & vegetation (esp Trees)• Minimize construction footprint• Store and reuse topsoil from site• Retain “buffer” vegetation along waterways

• Restore disturbed soils by tilling 2-4” of compost into upper 8-12” of soil. Rip to loosen compacted layers

• Existing Landscapes• Retrofit soils with tilled-in compost when re-landscaping • Mulch beds with organic mulches (bark mulch, leaf

mulch, compost amendments), and top-dress turf with compost

• Avoid overuse of chemicals, which may damage soil lifeBuilding soil-foundations for success soilsforsalmon.org

Testing

• What kind of testing is needed?• Basic testing• Heavy metals• TACO

• http://urbanext.illinois.edu/soiltest/

• There can be variability between labs

• Need testing on your inputs as well• You could be adding to a problem with the wrong

fertilizer or amendment

Testing, one size doesn’t fit all• Determine what tests are needed for the project

intent

• Determine what lab to work with for analysis

• Be sure the samples are collected according to the quantity and method required by the lab, and analysis to be performed.

• Submit them with plenty of lead time for the specific project.

Soil pH

www.extension.org

16 Essential Plant Nutrients• Carbon C• Hydrogen H• Oxygen O

• Macro Nutrents• Nitrogen N• Phophorus P• Potassium K• Calcium Ca• Magnesium Mg• Sulfur S

• Micro Nutrients• Boron B• Chlorine Cl• Copper Cu• Iron Fe• Manganese Mn• Molybdenum Mo• Zinc Zn

Cation Exchange Capacity

Soil texture CEC (meq/100g

soi)

Sands (light-colored) 3-5

Sands (dark-colored) 10-20

Loams 10-15Silt loams 15-25

Clay and clay loams 20-50

Organic soils 50-100

http://soils.tfrec.wsu.edu/webnutritiongood/soilprops/04CEC.htm

Soil Texture

Soil Texture

Porosity and Permeability• Permeability, or the ability of water to move

through soil and at what rate, is directly influenced by porosity

• Porosity is determined by the size, texture and structure of particles as well as the type and distribution of organic matter

• Fine texture hold more water • Coarse Drain less• Medium textured soils can do both

Simple Field test for Permeability• What you need

• Use large empty can, open on both ends (coffee can or equivalent)

• Ruler• Timer• Water

• Drive can into soil so that there is at least 3in below and above ground

• Tamp down area around can to seal• Make sure to saturate soil area first to ensure

you are seeing infiltration vs going into dry soil• Measure how far the water level drops in 1, 2, 3

hours• Good way to get estimate of inches per hour of

infiltration

>3in above

>3in below

Bulk Density and Compaction

• Bulk density is measure of mass per unit volume• Lbs/cf• g/cm3

• Compaction increase bulk density and can be detrimental to plant material and trees

• Adding organic matter and other soil buiding activities lower bulk density

Organic matter• Organic matter vs. Organic material

• Types of Organic materials• Compost (a verb not a noun)• Pine bark• Spent mushroom substrate• Mulch products

• Cheap amendments and mulches may be just that. Inexpensive ok, but don’t sacrifice quality with cheap, that’s not why you are here

Organic Amendments

• Supports soil organisms - Restores soil life

• Buffers pH, acid or alkaline toward optimal 6.3-6.8

• Reduces bulk density (compaction)

• Improves water holding capacity

• Improves soil structure• Increases CEC, nutrient storage

and availability

Create a soil management plan• Make soil a priority on any landscape project

plan• Do on-site evaluations of soil conditions and

needs• Test, test, test• Establish expectation with customers, employees

and subcontractors that a soil management plan must be followed• If other contractors on job compact the soil,

your plants and design will suffer• Source material from predictable and reputable

sources and suppliers

Job specification• A job specification is a requirement not a suggestion• They can be convoluted , contradictory and unattainable• There can be hidden testing and sampling costs that are

easily overlooked• Specified soils and amendments are not necessarily

waiting for you to order, they may have to be engineered on a job specific basis which takes time

• So…• Communicate• Anticipate• Plan accordingly

Selling soil quality to your customer

• More marketable buildings• Better erosion control• Easier planting, healthier plants, fewer call backs• More attractive landscapes, that sell the next job • Easier maintenance for customers (healthier plants,

fewer weeds, less need for water, fertilizer, pesticides)• Reduce storm water runoff, with better water

quality• Regulatory compliance (current and upcoming

regulations)

Selling soil quality to your customer

• Value to builder/contractor• Less plant loss = fewer callbacks• Quicker planting in prepped soil• Easier maintenance• Better appearance sells next job

• Sell quality & savings to customer• Better plant survival/ health/ growth/

appearance• Lower water bills, easier care• Reduced chemical needs = better for family

health• Reduces storm runoff, improves water quality

Value of a Healthy Soil• Billions of soil organisms• Support healthy plant grower, fertilize, protect

plants from disease• Create soil structure, resist compaction• Provide stormwater infiltration• Prevent Erosion• Reduce summer water needs• Filter out pollutants (oil, meatals, pesticieds,

etc.)• Reduce need for landscape chemicals

Thank You