Good Things Come In Small Packages!

Not this kind of small package.....

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this kind of small package,

 a soil sample box from the LSU AgCenter.

Tomorrow we are going to talk a bout starting a home orchard, but first we need to know a few things such as soil pH, soil texture, and soil drainage.  Here are the steps to take to find out these three important pieces of information:

Soil pH:  To determine your soil pH, make a quick trip to the local AgCenter.  Ask for a soil sample box.  Inside you will find three ziplock bags for three separate sample areas in your yard.  The box also contain directions for gathering your soil sample.

The cost is $15 for one sample, $25 for two, and $35 for three.  It will take about ten days to receive your results.  The results will not only give you your pH number but tell you exactly what to add to your soil to reach a premium pH.

Soil Texture:  You can do this test yourself by following these steps:
                              1. Find a clear, slender jar.
                              2. Fill the jar with 1/4 soil, 3/4 water, and one teaspoon dishwasher
                                  detergent.
                              3. Shake and place on counter.
                              4. After one minute, use a marker to draw a line on the outside of the jar
                                  that marks the first layer that has settled out at the bottom of the jar. 
                                  This is sand.
                              5. After two hours, mark the level of the next level.  This is silt.
                              6. After the water completely clears, which could be a couple of days,
                                  your final layer will be clay. 
                              7. Assign percentages to the three levels by making a ratio of each 
                                  of each layer to the total soil.  Example: 30% sand, 40% silt, 30% clay
                              8. Locate your percentages on the Soil Texture Triangle below.
                                                                 

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Drainage:  This is another DIY test. Just follow these steps:
                              1. Dig an 8" hole that is 32" deep.
                              2. Fill it with 7 gallons of water.
                              3. In 24 hours go back and check the hole. If there is no water in it,
                                  you've got great drainage!  If there is still water in the hole,
                                  come back in 24 more hours.
                              4. If after 48 hours there is no water in the hole, you're drainage is OK,
                                  but you will need to be mindful of how much you water.
                              5. If after 48 hours there is still water in the hole, you can not plant fruit
                                  trees.

Now that we know how to get the information we need to start a home orchard, tomorrow we'll talk about what to plant and where.

                                                             See you then,
                                                                   Shelli

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