i can dig it

on


In consideration of all the work I had ahead of me, my friend Wally sent someone over to lend a hand. Ryan Gosling. What do I care if Ryan was in AI format? He had a shovel. I put him right to work.

Our yard is all clay. Hard, dense, water-retaining and not great for growing. So I dug a trench 2 feet deep, 3 feet wide and 46 feet long. That's not a typo. It will take 7 cubic yards of good black dirt to fill it back up for planting what I actually want to plant.

Someone asked why I didn't just dig holes. First of all, digging the entire planting area will allow the plants to spread their roots to find water and nutrients. And for me, it will be easier to change things around. It was a tough job but It's done, it's done right, and it will never have to be done again.

Before I plant, I research to find the right plant for the right place. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out as I have planned. If I get it wrong, I do it over until I get it right - transplanting and replacing. People think I have a green thumb. Not really. I just don't take no for an answer.

After digging the trench, the bottom was packed down hard. A plant's roots will stop when they hit dense clay, so we try to trick it by transitioning the soil. To do that, I first chopped up the bottom of the trench, then layered it with leaves and gypsum to help break it down. Then I put in a layer of old potting soil left over from abandoned pots and planter boxes. The dirt might be old but it's still good. Then I repeated all of that and gave it a good watering. Now it's ready for some better soil. Transition! The plants will never know the difference. Like me and Ryan Gosling in AI format. 


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