Regenerating Dead and Dry Soil in Minutes (Ready for Growing Food)

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  • čas přidán 5. 04. 2019
  • As a gardener, seeing a really light coloured soil, which is as dry as sand and has no organic matter (or hardly any), tells me that it just won't nearly be as productive. Our solar tunnel has suffered from not enough organic matter being put into it so this year I thought I would take drastic action to add loads of nutrients to it and improve the water holding capacity. Watch to see the comparison between watering the soil before and after.
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  • Auta a dopravní prostředky

Komentáře • 609

  • @janicemckenzie5801
    @janicemckenzie5801 Před 5 lety +261

    I saw once where a farmer had a pig sty and he moved the sty yearly and left it over winter and in the spring it was the site of his new garden. Produce was great and the pigs did all the work

  • @craigmetcalfe1749
    @craigmetcalfe1749 Před 3 lety +26

    Greetings from Down Under Huw! I have been binge watching your videos since I started to rejuvenate my garden in March of this year. I applied your technique to a 6m bed. I double forked it and found out that not only was it a clay soil but that it was also heavily compacted. By the time I was done with the forking, my fork prongs looked like wicket keepers fingers (none of them pointed in the same direction). The handle also came off so now I have a dibber just like the one Charles Dowding uses. I applied your permaculture principle of observation and noticed that where leaves had accumulated over the years, the soil was more friable. So I added a layer of manure and compost and hand watered it every day for a month using a 9l watering can and going up and down the bed 4 times. I am happy to report that I am now growing Turmeric, Galangal, Butternut Squash, French Lavender, and Red Onions all in the one bed. I am putting in a pair of arches so that my Butternut Squash can grow vertically. Stay safe and test negative my learned friend.

  • @lorthree
    @lorthree Před 4 lety +74

    As a beginner i would just like to say i found this video really helpful. I have just moved into a new house and for the first time have a garden! Can't wait to get growing using all the advice from your channel :)
    I have also ordered your books from my local library (don't have the money to buy them yet, but will ask for them as a birthday present from the family).

  • @BaltimoresBerzerker
    @BaltimoresBerzerker Před 5 lety +271

    Something I learned this year: I usually throw wood chips as mulch over my soil to protect microbiology, moisture, etc. when an area isn't used for 365 growing. Doing so helps prevent the soil degradation we witnessed on this video. Well I had none. So I chopped up my dead marigolds and had no other choice but to mulch the flower bed with that. Amazing results! It is a fantastic hay replacement! Ground cover perfection! Wanted to share because I know it's a popularly grown edible flower.

    • @Isaacmantx
      @Isaacmantx Před 5 lety +24

      And it has the benefit of warding of many pests!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +28

      Thank you so much! I will be running trials with a woodchip mulch to see how it goes! :) That is so awesome! Best wishes

    • @thehomeplatespecial597
      @thehomeplatespecial597 Před 5 lety +9

      BaltimoresBerzerker i had never heard anyone eating marigolds in the u.s. Is this a common edible flower where you are? thank you for sharing! I love growing marigolds.

    • @BaltimoresBerzerker
      @BaltimoresBerzerker Před 5 lety +12

      @@thehomeplatespecial597 it's not very common for people to eat them in the USA. But there's people around eating flowers. Nasturtium etc. Glad I could help you guys!

    • @pershop4950
      @pershop4950 Před 5 lety +17

      You can expand this to be for almost any green plant or plant material.
      For example, check out "trench composting" or "chop and drop" method of composting right where you need it.

  • @jaymoon8559
    @jaymoon8559 Před 5 lety +18

    No matter what anyone says I liked this good old proven style. Thank you.

  • @remeaiseirish
    @remeaiseirish Před 4 lety +14

    Thank you young man ,this explains what was happening to my garden areas not being used fir a couple years. I have folowed your seps and it sure makes a difference.

  • @TheGentGaming
    @TheGentGaming Před 4 lety +12

    Lots of hate on this video for no apparent reason.
    Thanks for the tips, Huw. Appreciate the video.

    • @kevinbrennan2004
      @kevinbrennan2004 Před 2 lety +1

      People that post hate ticks on videos like this, are nothing but trolls, who randomly surf the net, with the mission of pissing others off. In short.. poor sick sad f...s.

  • @debramoss2267
    @debramoss2267 Před 5 lety +20

    Brilliant video. So thankful for the kid's rake idea. A really smart answer for those of us with limited ability to lift heavy adult ones. Clever, thanks!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +3

      Thank you so much Debra :)

    • @Bekothegreat
      @Bekothegreat Před 5 lety +3

      It is not the size of the tool that matters... It's how you use it!

  • @elizabethwhite2151
    @elizabethwhite2151 Před 4 lety +16

    As always, incredibly useful information presented clearly and succinctly. Thank you so much for so generously sharing what you know and are learning with us all, Huw!!! So appreciated! 🙏🏻🤗

  • @epicgardening
    @epicgardening Před 5 lety +47

    GREAT vid Huw.

    • @denb502
      @denb502 Před 3 lety

      So are yours 😊👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻

    • @lookup5610
      @lookup5610 Před 3 lety

      @@denb502 czcams.com/video/Z0z1G6sgtQ4/video.html

  • @christinalynn8143
    @christinalynn8143 Před rokem +1

    Huw Richard's soil study lesson an important part of revitalizing the world's soil, the earth! Yay, for this bit of information, so important. 👏

  • @MelSchmidt7
    @MelSchmidt7 Před 4 lety +10

    I only came across your channel this past week, and I love your videos! I have been watching Charles Dowding's channel for some time, but this year I've been very discouraged and frustrated trying to water and finding that my water is not absorbing at all. I have been trying very hard to go "no dig", but I know you are leaning that way as well, and still find the need from time to time for digging. I am from Pennsylvania in the US, so my growing season is significantly behind yours, and we have just finished a very long and dry winter season, but now I know what I need to do to fix my garden beds. Thank you!

  • @LibertyGarden
    @LibertyGarden Před 5 lety +81

    I'm all for no dig gardening, but sometimes a good turning is what's needed. Thanks for the video.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +40

      I think people get too caught up with one way or the other when it comes to digging or not. For me: As long as you have fun and grow food then hey, go for it! :)

    • @LibertyGarden
      @LibertyGarden Před 5 lety +9

      @@HuwRichards I agree. When it comes to gardening, the proof is in the results. At least that's how I see it, too.

    • @sosteve9113
      @sosteve9113 Před 5 lety +4

      same here

    • @thorsten8790
      @thorsten8790 Před 5 lety +20

      As far as I understood no digging is basically about letting microorganism and things like worms live undamaged beneath the earth. The real problem is excessive digging and use of chemicals, not necessarily a surface scale digging to fix the soil.

    • @greenwoodorganics4681
      @greenwoodorganics4681 Před 5 lety +11

      Why not just let the worms do it? If you dump some tasty compost on the surface they will have it partially turned in within days, no need to disrupt the fungal network with a spade.

  • @obroadieswimmer
    @obroadieswimmer Před 5 lety +18

    I love your style and your content. Thanks for making these. I'll be following from now. Wishing you all the best with your channel mate.

  • @ArtGardens
    @ArtGardens Před 4 lety +2

    Thank you, I have the same problem , very informative, I will do the same tomorrow.Keep gardening and posting .

  • @rwatts2155
    @rwatts2155 Před 5 lety +21

    Congratulations on another excellent video! I've watched your videos for several years ( since you were a kid ) and have always appreciated your passion for gardening. You have a way about you that inspires even the old geezers like me to get out and turn the soil ! You are absolutely spot on about the soil. HEALTHY SOIL = HEALTHY PLANTS.
    I bury the kitchen scraps that my chikens and ducks don't eat in my gardens. This adds nutrients and moisture to the soil and actually creates compost right beneath the plants. I also bury fish heads and left over meats in the gardens. It all decomposes and creates healthy soil. Keep up the good work !

  • @sweetolyve
    @sweetolyve Před 5 lety +15

    Another great instructional video. Thank you for this. I've had this same problem in the past and did what you've done with great success. Have an awesome weekend.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +2

      Thank you so much! I did it was all spent in the garden :) Best wishes

  • @LaHortetadeBussy
    @LaHortetadeBussy Před 5 lety +5

    Wow. Incredible man.

  • @Gabrielsmessinger
    @Gabrielsmessinger Před 5 lety +9

    Suprised to see you standing in the bed, I try to keep mine reachable from the sides. Thanx for the vid. 🙂

  • @edieboudreau9637
    @edieboudreau9637 Před 5 lety +16

    Native Americans used to dig a hole and put 2 things under each tomato plant: fish & dried empty corn cobs.

  • @maricaplasmans6061
    @maricaplasmans6061 Před 5 lety +12

    Finaly someone who provides me with messurments in cm. Thanks Huw and good luck at theaching next sunday at Lizses place.

    • @baileymoto
      @baileymoto Před 4 lety

      Marica Plasmans food tastes better if you grow it in inches and feet. :P

  • @llswink
    @llswink Před 2 lety +3

    Just watched this today and it was exactly what I needed to know. I have two original raised beds that are outside and they have become compacted. I will rework them this week. Thanks.

  • @patriciavincent5076
    @patriciavincent5076 Před 4 lety +4

    Love this. One side of my garden is so dry and dead. Thanks for your expertise!

  • @karen_james
    @karen_james Před 3 lety +1

    I add manure and compost every year and it’s made a world of difference to all my beds. Soul is much looser and rich in organic matter.

  • @PetalsonthePavingSlabs
    @PetalsonthePavingSlabs Před 5 lety +24

    Hiya Huw, one of my ever so kind subscribers (Ac S) bought your book off our amazon wishlist, and my youngest daughter (deputy head gardener Ruby) is so excited that she now has her own bed to follow your book with. It's a cracking book, thank you and also thank you for producing something which is actively encouraging one of my children to grow their own food. I know your book isnt aimed at children, but if my ten year old can follow it then theres hope for all of us! She is at the lettuce, radish and transplanting broad beans stage. Thanks again Huw, good luck to you and keep doing what you do. Oh, and I enjoyed this video too!

  • @amyhinojosa3308
    @amyhinojosa3308 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for sharing so many different ways to garden in your videos!

  • @blondwiththewind
    @blondwiththewind Před 5 lety +13

    Haha!!! I've been using "kid size" tools since my "kid size" person outgrew them!!! :D They ARE very handy to use....and for people that have strength issues: it gives them an opportunity to work with soil at their own pace and ability. If you need to purchase some for yourself: it's a worthy investment.

  • @Terry.W
    @Terry.W Před 5 lety +53

    Yeah get the soil right and that's half the job done..

  • @Gaark
    @Gaark Před 5 lety +8

    Great timing, I've just had a dig about and found nothing but dust!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety

      Hahaha thank you Jeff and good luck with the regeneration! ;)

  • @johnbaxter189
    @johnbaxter189 Před 5 lety +4

    Good show Huw. Good u teach the basics.

  • @RiverPlaid
    @RiverPlaid Před 5 lety +4

    Great job Huw🍀

  • @jdion79
    @jdion79 Před 2 lety +2

    this was a massive help, bud! thank you!

  • @gardenboots7464
    @gardenboots7464 Před 4 lety +1

    Huw, this was a worthwhile video. I enjoyed seeing the process. Much appreciated.

  • @dino4941
    @dino4941 Před 5 lety +60

    the video reminds me on how a typical student would write any kind of essay or paper.
    You got information for maybe 2 sentences and you blow it up to span 5 pages.
    Summary of the video: Soil is dry and lacks compost/organic matter. To fix it put lots and lots of water in it, dig around in the soil to loosen it and break up the compacted structure and mix in some fresh earth or compost into the soil.

    • @pershop4950
      @pershop4950 Před 5 lety +10

      Well, in the video's defense, there are also 2 other common topics that are also a multi-million dollar industry, but there are still many books and articles all talking about them.
      To lose weight: Use up more calories than you take in.
      To save money or not be in debt: Spend less than you earn.
      Yes, we can turn those 2 simple sentences into 5-page essays also.

    • @dino4941
      @dino4941 Před 5 lety +3

      @@pershop4950 thats true. but will those two sets of 5 pages be just "eat less than you need" and "spend less than you earn" or do you dive deeper into the topic. How to much fat influences your hormone balance so your body has a constant state of mild inflammation leading to increased stress hormones being released which in turn makes the body more eager to build up fat.
      Or how about pathological spending habbits, addictions that cost money (alcohol, smoking, drugs, Magic the gathering, the usual), the need for materialistic status symbols, gambling or something as simple as the inability to cook your own meals... going out to eat is fucking expensive.
      But the same could be done here. Maybe tell us why this dry soil doesn't really absorb water, or what kind of micro organisms still are in the soil and which die, how long does it take for the soil to be completely recovered, does it help to throw a bucket of worms on the watered soil. there are many little things you could use to fill up the video and you don't need all of them. Take maybe two, would be enough for a 10 min video. But the video is literally 10 min about water it, dig around, water some more, add compost.

    • @Skillbombe
      @Skillbombe Před 5 lety +6

      Dino You’re a sad man Dino, a sad man indeed

    • @dino4941
      @dino4941 Před 5 lety +1

      @@Skillbombe elaborate

    • @UndefinedBailiwick
      @UndefinedBailiwick Před 5 lety +11

      What you've stated is disingenuous. You say that he has enough information for two sentences, yet you say those two sentences are the 'summary' of the video. If he made a 30 second video saying 2 sentences, instead of a 10 minute, do you honestly think that would help someone that knows nothing about gardening? Conveying insight is what tells people how to accomplish something, not summaries.

  • @drummingearth5326
    @drummingearth5326 Před 5 lety +287

    Mate, you took 7 minutes to inform us that to improve smoky soil you add manure and compost. I was waiting for some magic formula

    • @MrJoshcc600
      @MrJoshcc600 Před 5 lety +19

      Yup this drove me crazy i kept skipping and skipping and just WTF? Oh, add compost.... Wow...

    • @VeonySyndrome
      @VeonySyndrome Před 5 lety +25

      I think the watering process is important

    • @edsafo4295
      @edsafo4295 Před 5 lety +11

      The ease of the process show us we can improve almost all soils, this only need hard work (and a lot of water and compost) =)

    • @bludelphinium994
      @bludelphinium994 Před 5 lety +15

      I love the detailed information

    • @HippoHousing
      @HippoHousing Před 5 lety +7

      i got 5 minutes in and thought so to fix dry soil add water ... great advice. glad to see he at least gets to something that will improve the soil by the end.

  • @leighb.8508
    @leighb.8508 Před 5 lety +2

    Thanks so much! This is exactly what I'm going to do!

  • @LindaPenney
    @LindaPenney Před 5 lety +6

    Awesome update thank you for sharing Huw

  • @johnjohn4465
    @johnjohn4465 Před 5 lety +3

    FIVE STARS !!!!!! These should be some Happy Plants !!!!! Do a Part two and show us the results , please ???? Thank you , John

  • @lailamonreal4817
    @lailamonreal4817 Před 4 lety +2

    ♥️ Keep your doing to inspire others God bless you. From Philippines 🇵🇭

  • @patriciavincent5076
    @patriciavincent5076 Před 5 lety +4

    Learned a lot. Thank you!

  • @13c11a
    @13c11a Před 3 lety +1

    Great quick remediation. Thanks very much.

  • @chelebowns8078
    @chelebowns8078 Před 5 lety +7

    Nothing beats a fresh garden tomato Sammy!

    • @c.s.5177
      @c.s.5177 Před 5 lety +3

      I'm thinking " who's Sammy?" haha

  • @formercityboy9772
    @formercityboy9772 Před 4 lety +8

    oh youtube recommended me this video at a good timing.. soil in my potager dries up really quickly

  • @warren4765
    @warren4765 Před 5 lety +16

    Hello, this was the state of our soil in our tomato glasshouse at work. So I tried it on one bed this afternoon. It looks and holds the moisture so much more now and looks a lot better? As you showed in the video, my soil was just floating on the surface of the water too. It took a lot more water than I thought it would. Great tip, thank you very much. Keep up the good work

    • @sunflowerhk100
      @sunflowerhk100 Před 2 lety +1

      How can I use this method in a really large area, like the lawn? it is not possible to dig it in when the grass is still in there. Plus, it would be too much manual digging.

    • @adamjohnson9593
      @adamjohnson9593 Před 2 lety +2

      @@sunflowerhk100 You can get compost, make sure it's fine (can sieve it and take bigger parts out) and sprinkle it over your lawn. Use a rake to lightly rake it into the grass so it settles on dirt floor. Just water it in heavy and water your lawn every other day. The compost will meld into your soil and should have it in much better quality overtime. This is a great way to fertilize your lawn too

  • @hadyanth
    @hadyanth Před 3 lety +1

    Great video and you seem like such a nice chap. Thanks!

  • @markmurphy3088
    @markmurphy3088 Před 3 lety +1

    Definitely I’ve started out gardening I love it and your video is very useful thank you for this 😃

  • @racheltomlinson2257
    @racheltomlinson2257 Před 5 lety +2

    Thank you for this information, I will now dig in manure next time rather than just put on the top for my next batch of growing veg.

  • @TheLadyfireice
    @TheLadyfireice Před 3 lety

    I have been having a problem with my garden drying out for a few years now. The soil would literally be dry dry and no amount of watering would help. It would just run off and waste water actually. Thank you for sharing this wonderful solution to my problem.

  • @wasabiy817
    @wasabiy817 Před 3 lety

    this is great timing to see this video! thanks for sharing

  • @096085
    @096085 Před 2 lety

    Quick and Easy straight to the point!

  • @amberrain306
    @amberrain306 Před 4 lety +1

    Very helpful and informative - Thank you 🌱

  • @DojosAllotmentSpecialist
    @DojosAllotmentSpecialist Před 5 lety +6

    Great information Huw thank you 😊

  • @jollyjollyme
    @jollyjollyme Před 5 lety +7

    Hi Huw and thanks for this video - the soil in my polytunnel is exactly like that - dry and dusty, I will have to try this method and get it fixed 😊

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +2

      Thank you so much and hopefully it'll be all fixed and ready for a productive growing season :D

  • @littledotti6808
    @littledotti6808 Před 5 lety +3

    Thank you. Most helpful.

  • @windywalcha
    @windywalcha Před 3 lety +1

    So helpful Huw! Thank you!

  • @nanwuamitofo
    @nanwuamitofo Před rokem

    Huw's nasality is utterly amazing!

  • @radharcanna
    @radharcanna Před rokem

    Another great video Huw.

  • @vadimszubovskis2044
    @vadimszubovskis2044 Před 5 lety +3

    It looks good.

  • @pistolcrystal2
    @pistolcrystal2 Před 4 lety

    We just bought our first new house that already has a gardening area however the plants are near death. Thank you for your video! I am new to this. This was very educational. I'm praying that with baby steps, I can bring the garden back to life

    • @lookup5610
      @lookup5610 Před 3 lety

      czcams.com/video/Z0z1G6sgtQ4/video.html

  • @dgerdi
    @dgerdi Před 4 lety +1

    Wow. Thank you for this tutorial. I wouldn’t have expected that so much water is needed. Water of course, but not this much. But it is a shame to let precious soil rotten like this. If it‘s autumn and someone just have no nerve to work in the garden - just water the soil and put hay on it to protect it. When I see a soil today without being covered with Woodchips, Hay or something I think „Why is this soil unprotected?“ Love your soil like you love the plants. (And the little heroes - the earthworms!). The more love you give and the wiser you become, the more veggies you will get.

  • @peaceandlove5214
    @peaceandlove5214 Před rokem

    Great demonstration thanks.
    You always shine.

  • @Horse237
    @Horse237 Před 3 lety +1

    I would plant a diverse cover crop to encourage soil biology. And leave the roots in the soil after terminating the cover crops to increase organic matter.

  • @wyominghome4857
    @wyominghome4857 Před rokem

    I have two acres with soil exactly like this - compacted and dry. Thanks for the tips.

  • @Hamza-GH-Hofmann
    @Hamza-GH-Hofmann Před rokem

    Thank you very much. This was very helpful and encouraging for its simplicity, to solve a repeating topic. Sincerely from Germany.

  • @janicejurgensen2122
    @janicejurgensen2122 Před rokem

    I found it easy and simple to do. Definitely trying this.

  • @PerplexiaX
    @PerplexiaX Před 5 lety +3

    My little plot hasn't been gardened for a few years, and it was pretty dead.
    This year, I did just backwards of what you showed us... I got all the weeds out, turned the soil,
    covered it with three bags of steer manure and half a bag of chicken manure,
    then watered it down with a sprinkler for a few hours, so that the biotics would wash down into the underlying soil.
    Then I turned it again, tilled it with a hand tiller, put my walkway in, formed my rows,
    and seeded my carrots, beets, and radishes! I just forgot to work in my homemade compost!
    But I can use that for the potted plants I'll be doing later! Maybe for my winter crops if I do that!

  • @susanfoy4794
    @susanfoy4794 Před rokem

    Thank you. This video is very helpful.

  • @danreeves1172
    @danreeves1172 Před 5 lety +15

    No need to turn over your Soil Huw! Here in Perth, Western Australia we grow on beach sand that turns hydrophobic at the look of a cloud. Industry here has to pioneered the use of wetting agents that help break down the waxy layer formed by microbes of all things and allow the soil/sand to absorb some water. These wetting agents can also promote beneficial results in plants with the addition of liquid compost, soil humates, seaweed solution etc.

    • @lookup5610
      @lookup5610 Před 3 lety

      czcams.com/video/Z0z1G6sgtQ4/video.html

    • @nunyabiznis817
      @nunyabiznis817 Před 2 lety

      I used the no-dig method until I realized I was breeding some of the nastiest garden pests year after year. Tilling has always been a necessary task for a reason and one of those reasons is to reduce pest pressure. You till at the end of the season and then again at the beginning of the season. So in an area where you have cold winters, the first tilling in the fall brings up some of the pupa and it freezes in the winter and they die. Then in the early spring, you till it again to bring up more pupa, which are destroyed by the sun and/or eaten by birds.

  • @bolm9304
    @bolm9304 Před 5 lety +7

    The reason I liked your tutorial so much was that watching the whole process taught me in a way that was very effective to understand and retain for my own use whenever I will use it. I really enjoy your tutorials, you have a great teaching style that holds my attention throughout. I'm glad you included everything I needed to know. Unfortunately, It's the ugly side of human nature that JEALOUSY makes ppl say and do bad things

  • @nottooclosepleeze
    @nottooclosepleeze Před 5 lety +2

    Very well done. Thank you sir!

    • @lookup5610
      @lookup5610 Před 3 lety

      czcams.com/video/Z0z1G6sgtQ4/video.html

  • @edcglassworks5771
    @edcglassworks5771 Před 26 dny

    Very good video. Thanks!

  • @colin-manyeates-clan5221

    So I saw a video the other day that was free or $7 later. I was busy so did not watch the whole thing But the gist of what I got from it was that the way to save the planet is to save the soil and the way to save the soil is to keep something anything growing on the surface and then plant without disturbing any of the surface stuff.
    Apparently when you turn the soil all the nitrogen, carbon dioxide is released and other stuff which kills the soil. Apparently by keeping stuff growing it helps absorb needed CO2 from the air and puts it into the soil where it is needed.
    What I can tell you is that when I was in Fiji the indigenous people did just that. Everything looked like wild forest except for a small corn field and they never tilled it or took down the left overs. Everything grew together and it was wonderful. Even their decorations in the village itself were some fruit tree or another.
    I tried it in my own way and planted Mint all around to keep bugs away and I did something else as an experiment so I would not have to water the garden. I put large sheet of black plastic down and put bricks on it in the fall. At the time I did it as a lazy mans way of killing the weeds grass and what not. In the spring I made a hole puncher by sharpening a metal (pvc works too) and sharpen the edge really sharp. Then I simply pounded it through the plastic into the ground about three inches. Pulled the plug threw the seeds in and put a little mulch from a pile of leaves the the winter winds blew into a corner. Watered it, Put the plug back in and went to the next space.
    Results? Awesome... the best tomatoes ever and they kept producing. I never watered it after they popped up and the next year there was a hidden benefit. My neighbor was always weeding her garden and never had the same results. So the next year we had a very wet season and most all her roots rotted from the wetness. The plastic caused the bulk of the water to run off and shield the ground from too much water and again I had a great crop.
    By the second year there was grass that started invading and covering the plastic. I left it there except whatever was growing too tall and taking over but left the roots. Completely the opposite of what I was taught, "get the roots out or the weeds will deplete the soil of all the nutrients...". Not so in reality.
    I admit I tilled the soil the first fall before putting the plastic down and did not the next two years and concluded basically what this video I can't find, was saying. Leave it alone and let it grow. So it makes sense now, to keep the good stuff in the soil. I think of a worm and how it dies if it is brought to the surface.. it dies. Apparently there is a whole ecosystem under there and when we till it, like vitamin C, when we open it up to the air... its is gone in 30 seconds, which is why "Nature and Natures God" made all those tiny sweet sacks to keep the air out and the vitamin C in.
    My three cents worth hope this is useful. What I like most about it is that it frees up my time to give thanks to Creator and be happy and shhhhh talking to plants really works too... shhhhh. :-} Blessings

  • @Asdfbedffhdsxe345
    @Asdfbedffhdsxe345 Před rokem

    Thanks for another great video

  • @sbarr10
    @sbarr10 Před 4 lety +1

    I live in a very dry area. At home we no longer do strictly drip line irrigation for this reason. Too much of the soil is left dry, and it doesn't strike me as maintaining good soil health. We supplement with an oscillating sprinkler, which not only gets the soil more evenly moist but also manages to cool down the area effectively during the summer.
    We also try to get the organic matter dug in well before planting, to have time to get everything wet down and give time for the worms to move in and do their work.

  • @VvERingmustmOneven
    @VvERingmustmOneven Před 5 lety +14

    to me that soil is dried out, not dead. that soil is like moondust, being static, rejecting water. using a slow fine water spray would moisturise the soil better than trying to throw a can onto it. If the soil is this dry, I stick bamboo into earth causing holes, spray the soil and do that a few times, eventually it will get wet without having to break your back turning the soil (the holes from bamboo can be spaced so they can be used for putting seeds in directly as well)

  • @sunnygamer1798
    @sunnygamer1798 Před 3 lety

    detail information very beneficial for garden lovers

  • @ShannasCountryCreek
    @ShannasCountryCreek Před 3 lety

    Lord I needed this video ‼ Thank you ❤🌱😊

  • @Aritul
    @Aritul Před 5 lety +1

    Thank you.

  • @larkatmic
    @larkatmic Před 5 lety +5

    Thank you 🙏

  • @wobblybobengland
    @wobblybobengland Před 3 lety

    Kids rake, yeah! My kids have some of the best quality garden toys you can get!

  • @angelaslatzer9263
    @angelaslatzer9263 Před rokem

    One of our raised beds was aquaphobic just like this. We didn’t work any water into the compost (super dry) when we filled the box for the first time which definitely caused issues. I appreciate seeing the quick fix as well as a longer term solution of adding the manure.

  • @winslowschoolofdance
    @winslowschoolofdance Před 2 lety

    Thanks so much! Just what I needed today.

  • @cherrishV
    @cherrishV Před 4 lety +1

    I do the same thing during late winter or early spring before i plant my seedlings for the summer crop.

  • @bethanskitchengarden
    @bethanskitchengarden Před 5 lety +3

    Great video Huw, really informative and love your child’s rake 😊

  • @jckirby7994
    @jckirby7994 Před 5 lety +2

    Good presentation man.. thankyou

  • @zuzanapacakova6537
    @zuzanapacakova6537 Před rokem

    Velmi se mi vaše videa líbí a je skvělé, že automatický překladač je dokáže přeložit i do českého jazyka. Na zemědělské škole jsme se učili hospodářství ve velkém a jen samá hnojiva, vápnění, orání... Líbí se mi, jak produkujete různorodé druhy zeleniny a zároveň pečujete o půdu. Ve vašem podání to prostě člověka nadchne, vypadá to neskutečně jednoduše a také s využitím místních zdrojů a nízkých finančních nákladů.

  • @rebeccamckenzie5037
    @rebeccamckenzie5037 Před rokem

    Thanks for the video Huw! I have a lg. bed that's been baking in the sun all year (lg. bed but only 3 Hemlocks thus far) w/o mulch. I'm going to rejuvenate the soil here the same way as I'm sure any 'life' that was in the soil is probably fried now. Perfect timing! Love all your videos & insights, T Y.!!

  • @gelhope5510
    @gelhope5510 Před 5 lety +2

    Superb thank you very much

  • @hildacorley967
    @hildacorley967 Před 2 lety

    I have an area in my yard where the drainage ditch has poured drainage water and the grass has died. I was trying to figure out how to amend the soil and your video has given me plenty of ideas as well as 'Baltimores Berzerker' input. VDOT, Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible to repair within the ROW-Right-of-Way however I have been battling VDOT for years. They are impossible to follow-up on their responsibilities. I plan on now, so to speak, "Fighting City Hall". In the meantime I can keep myself busy planning amending the soil. Thanks for a really great and simple to understand video.

  • @scottiemcfrugal239
    @scottiemcfrugal239 Před 5 lety +1

    The criticisms below reminds me of when I opened a beautiful rustic high end restaurant in the countryside. Immediately every self-styled "critic" crawled out of the dirt to tear it down with their mind-numbing, ignorance inspired attacks. Nothing attracts these microbes quicker than success. Great work Huw! Incidentally, where are you? Haven't seen you for several weeks.

  • @peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920

    Greetings from Windermere, Florida zone 9b 🇺🇸
    That was a terrific video.
    What a big difference 👏

  • @aleset1
    @aleset1 Před 4 lety +1

    Very nice! I love tomatoes also.

  • @kitdubhran2968
    @kitdubhran2968 Před 5 lety +2

    I once made potting soil with (roughly) equal parts coconut fiber and vermicompost. The coconut coir fiber holds the moisture in the soil like pear moss without adding acid. Aside from one picky plant, I didn't have to add anything to the bed all year and it produced loss of herbs, tomatoes, peppers and squash for me. Oh and greens. Kale and spinach I think. And onions and shallots and chives I think. Been a couple of years so I can't remember exactly what it was. But it was our salsa bed. We added anything we wanted to be able to put in a dish to make salsa, and then added more things once that base was down.
    It taught me a lot of things. One is that, during the summer coconut fiber is so amazing. Because it holds the moisture in the bed. And the top may dry out. But the lower layers keep the moisture there for a lot longer. Because the fibers seep the moisture away slowly. I only had to water once a day, the same amount as before the summer. And everything was still chipper. I mean, it wasn't during a drought, so ymmv.
    And I learned that I don't really like the bigger tomatoes. They're more work (the only thing I had to do was add more calcium for one specific big tomato plant and it kept not producing eight all year. It would get close and then not finish.) and I don't actually enjoy the taste as much. Sun gold cherry tomatoes are the best tasting tomatoes ever. I will fight you. I used to think I hated tomatoes but those I would eat right off the vine. Slightly sour skin, sweet flesh, and the inside tasted like tomato sauce, just a bit sweet to compliment the other flavors. And second would be the oblong dense variety, like Roma or linguica. Those were fantastic for cooking and held up their shape through the process. Very nice.
    Morning ramble for me. Thanks for the video! It was actually super helpful!

    • @edieboudreau9637
      @edieboudreau9637 Před 5 lety +1

      Kit DuBhran try putting old dried corn cobs & fish head down in hole below planting tomato to lick that problem. Bigger tomatoes need extra calcium & nutrients the dried corn cobs & fish add.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  Před 5 lety +2

      That is fab! I try to use materials and products which are produced closer to home :) Yes coir is fantastic for moisture retention! Sheeps wool as it decomposes is also fantastic! I think cherry tomatoes just pack such a punch and are so so delicious and yes are tastier than big tomatoes plus you get more cherry tomatoes which gives the perception of being more productive ;) Which they often are anyway! Thank you so much for watching and commenting Kit :)

  • @blewprent
    @blewprent Před 3 lety

    Thank you for this video.

  • @ryansledz2515
    @ryansledz2515 Před 2 lety

    This actually helps alot! I love it! Also love the kids rake😂

  • @eliakimjosephsophia4542
    @eliakimjosephsophia4542 Před 5 lety +1

    What I have done with pots, is mix the soil after watering it with new soil. I'm hoping that will work to regenerate the soil. Also for the blueberry bush I can put some nitrogen feed into it too. I did mulch some of my container bushes, mini trees and herbs for overwintering, as they are still quite young, although I've found even after all of the rain we've had, the soil is quite dry due to the wood chips etc. Also I think the plants are drinking a lot more now as they are in growth season again.

  • @TheRockMorton
    @TheRockMorton Před 3 lety

    Most excellent! Thank you for your superb lesson on aerating and wetting dry soil and easily improving the organic nutrient content with compost. I'm going to also break and chop up a bale of alfalfa and turn shredded bits of alfalfa into the soil to boost the usable nitrogen level. Happy soil leads to happy gardening and farming, and lush plant life.

    • @lookup5610
      @lookup5610 Před 3 lety

      czcams.com/video/Z0z1G6sgtQ4/video.html

  • @francesbatycki404
    @francesbatycki404 Před 2 lety

    Gives me hope!

  • @Jean-tx1fl
    @Jean-tx1fl Před rokem

    That looked EXACTLY like my dirt! I dug it up and added some organic material (and some water), but it didn’t work well….plants fail to thrive (I have mostly raised beds). Can’t wait to try your technique! Thanks!

  • @52011313309g5
    @52011313309g5 Před 5 lety +2

    Love this video kiss xx from Thailand