FAQ

TIPS, BASICS
& ALL AROUND
INFORMATION
9 GARDEN BASICS
GETTING STARTED
98
DR. EARTH® GARDENING GUIDE DR. EARTH® GARDENING GUIDE
9
Sandy soils drain too quickly and
clay soils too slowly. Adding organic
materials helps to correct and balance
both types of soil. If you have a good
balance between sand, silt, clay and
organic materials, you have a solid
foundation for good drainage as well as
moisture retention in the space between
soil particles. When you improve your
soil’s drainage, you reduce the level of
fungal pathogens. You also improve root
development and nutrient availability in
a healthy aerobic environment.
Do a simple test to see how your soil
drains and whether you need to make
changes to correct your drainage. Dig
a hole about 1 foot deep and 6 inches
wide. Fill the hole with water and let
it drain completely. When the hole is
empty, fill it again with water to the
very top. If it takes more than 10 hours
to empty again, you have a drainage
problem. The good news is that this
problem can easily be solved by adding
organic materials or drainage pipes.
You can also grow plants in raised beds.
Advantages of growing in raised beds
Raised beds make it easier to plant and harvest crops and can be attractive.
They also give you control over the composition of the soil. Your home’s previous
owners might have contaminated the soil without you knowing it. Adding new
soil to a raised bed assures you of its safety.
Growing in raised beds makes projects seem more manageable, since tackling
your weeding or other chores one bed at a time feels doable and satisfying.
There is less back strain and better air circulation, because you don’t walk on the
soil and compact it. Also, that loose, fluffy soil is easier to weed. Raised beds have
also been shown to increase crop yields.
Raised beds can be constructed from brick, stones, or even hay bales, which
are the perfect height. If you use wood, make sure it is redwood, cedar, or some
other hardwood that has not been dipped in chemical wood preservatives.
Pressure treated wood is full of heavy metals and painted wood will eventually
decompose and contaminate the soil. Cheap plastic materials will also work but
are not very esthetically pleasing.
Raised beds give you total
control of soil composition
Drainage
getting the wet out
5
6
Organic
CDFA OIM Organic: This is a very prestigious and rigorous
admission to achieve. It serves the organic farming community
perfectly to further ensure the foods in our supermarkets are
“organic” as promised. We have worked very hard with Dr. Dale
Woods, Nick Young and the rest of the committed sta to meet
their needs to earn our OIM organic standings.
OMRI Organic: A gold standard for organic products since 1997.
OMRI serves both product manufacturers as well as the organic
farming community and we are proud to develop a synergetic
working relationship with CEO Peggy Miars and her talented and
devoted OMRI sta.
Non-GMO Products: We are committed to making a change
through our actions by providing non-GMO products for our
customers who are concerned about the potential health
risks of products made using this relatively new technology
of genetic engineering.
MycoApply® Certied: The gold standard of mycorrhizal
certication, assuring the overall integrity of mycorrhizal
ingredients for consumers and end-users throughout numerous
markets and industries. All Certied Products meet the
following guidelines in relation to proper "mycorrhizae" use and
incorporation: (not harmful to the mycorrhizae) Finished product
must demonstrate superior ecacy and high performance. We
have worked with Dr. Mike Amaranthus since 1998 in product
development and advanced research. Dr. Amaranthus has
changed this eld with his commitment to purity and the best
available species of mycorrhizae, and we are proud to share our
NEW innovative and proprietary blend of Dr. Earth® TruBiotic®
mycorrhizae, unmatched by any imitator or competitor.
Purity and Visibility
run deep in
our Commitment
to our Customers.
ADVANCED ORGANICS®
NON
GMO
NON
GMO