This article by Howard Garrett on changes in organic gardening practices was an interesting read. I knew peat moss was a no-no but not sharp sand.
You learn something new every day
March 1, 2004 – Posted in: MiscellaneousAbout the Author
What differentiates a bulb from a perennial plant is that the nourishment for the flower is stored within the bulb itself.…There is something miraculous about the way that a little grenade of dried up tissue can explode into a complete flower.
Comments on this entry are closed.
It isn’t a matter of what region you are in so much as what kind of soil you have. I have acid clay. To improve general structure and fertility of my soil, I add organic matter such as well rotted manure or compost. But when I want to grow something that needs really well-draining soil, I add grit, and if it doesn’t like acid soil I add ground limestone. Don Engebretson of the Renegade Gardener http://www.renegadegardener.com/ could probably advise you better on the best way to amend your Minnesota soil.
I wonder how much of this applies to Zone Four. Is it possible that Minnesota soil wouldn’t necessarily play nice with things like lava sand?
I’ve used sharp sand without problems, but some of my gardening friends do claim that it turns the ground to concrete.
I think Howard Garrett lost some of his credibility by recommending this through the years.