I’ve got the mulch/wood chips ready to spread but do I need to add anything to the soil before I start? The goal is to established native prairie plants and some fruit bushes.
Zone 7b if that matters
by LowEffortHuman
I’ve got the mulch/wood chips ready to spread but do I need to add anything to the soil before I start? The goal is to established native prairie plants and some fruit bushes.
Zone 7b if that matters
by LowEffortHuman
4 Comments
Photo description: soil test results showing deficiencies in nitrogen phosphorus and potassium.
Your waisting your time if your planting natives. They dont like ammendments
Given that you’re in Oregon, I’ll bet most any berries besides blueberries will grow fine without any amendments in your climate, and you can just supplement as needed later. Especially blackberries and raspberries grow like weeds
You’re deficient in the “big 3”, the three main nutrients plants need to survive. Generally speaking, Nitrogen spurs new growth, Phosphorus helps produce fruits and flowers, and Potassium helps support plants’ immune systems. Fertilizers provide N/P/K in different proportions. As a general rule when planting natives I use half native soil and half mushroom compost when backfilling the planting hole. The mushroom compost is usually a 1:1:1 ratio and should provide long lasting N/P/K as well as other micro nutrients plants need for various processes.
I’d also recommend getting a slow release fertilizer (I use osmocote 14:14:14 for my plantings) and top dress each plant according to the label. However, you may want to hold off on this until spring if you think you’ll get freezing temps in the next 6-8ish weeks. You don’t want to stimulate top growth if it’s just going to get damaged and die from cold.
Those two steps are the basics but if you really want to level up your game, get some seahume for micronutrients and building the microbiome. You can add this now and/or in the spring. Also look into getting some mychorrhizae powder to amend the soil and help build the fungal network when planting. It should touch the roots when filling the hole. Plants work with microbes and fungi to help absorb and make use of micronutrients in the soil. If you can help jumpstart these biomes, your plants will adapt faster and be much happier, sooner.
Double check if the plants you’re planting like a lot of nutrients or get stressed by too much and adjust accordingly. This will matter for how much compost and slow release fertilizer you use per plant.
People saying you don’t NEED amendments are sort of right. Natives are used to the native soil. Prairie plants often don’t need a ton of nutrients. However, amendments can help natives adjust faster, adapt better, and produce more. Just don’t over-do it if the plants you’ve chosen don’t need a ton of nutrients. Using slow release fertilizer helps with this. Over fertilizing and amending can kill.
Edit: also, just fertilize on a per plant basis. A lot of these companies that sell fertilizer try to sell you a ton and tell you to do the whole yard. Don’t. It’s a waste of money. Just amend and fertilize each plant individually and according to its native living conditions