Soil Amendments

Soil amendment products are used to improve soil porosity and aggregation, increase organic matter content, or change some biochemical property, such as pH or salinity. Different products, both liquid and dry, each made of different chemical or biological components, are needed to impart the necessary changes to the soil. A good starting point in choosing what soil amendment to use is to understand the physical and chemical makeup of your soil, often with a soil test as a guide. What is the texture of your soil? Is the structure adequate and balanced, or does your soil contain too much sand, silt, or clay content? Perhaps your soil is compacted, saline, low in organic matter, too high or low in pH, or lacking in beneficial microbes.

Ideal surface soil should be loose and aerobic with the look and feel of ground coffee, generally around neutral pH, low in dissolved salts, and with a balanced nutrient profile. Deeper soil should provide pore space that allows both drainage and capillary water movement. The goal is to create a rooting environment which allows adequate root exploration and a soil solution which is rich in balanced nutrients and biology. The right soil amendment will allow you to improve any of these characteristics, should they be out of balance in your soil.

Healthy, balanced soil will help you grow healthy plants. When soil conditions are optimal, seedling emergence is faster, roots are bigger and more efficient, disease and pest pressure is lessened, stress is ameliorated, and yields are increased. Additionally, optimal, healthy soils are often easier to work, potentially decreasing labor costs. Choosing the right soil amendment requires a detailed understanding of your soil’s natural characteristics. Douglas Plant Health has the right products and experience to assist you with identifying the correct soil amendments and application techniques to improve your soil.

Dean Craine Market Development Leader

YEAR ROUND Florida, California

Soil Amendments

APPLY WHEN SOIL TEMPERATURE IS 50-55 DEGREES F OR ABOVE MARCH - NOVEMBER APRIL - OCTOBER Mid South, Lower Mid West, Upper South East North East, Mid West, Pacific North West

Essential ® Plus 1-0-1

Essential Plus 1-0-1 is a 100% natural soil amendment derived from potassium hydroxide, organic proteins, sugars and a natural wetting agent. A colloidal liquid solution that provides a rich source of organic building blocks not found in typical nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers. Essential Plus contains humic acid to replenish soils that have been depleted of organic matter, helps alleviate soil compaction, and provides a food source for beneficial soil microorganisms. It is compatible with most other fertilizers and products and requires no special handling.

• Revitalizes Soil • For Seeding & Overseeding • Promotes Nutrient Absorption • Provides a Food Source for Beneficial Microbes

Turf General Rate: 2-5 ounces in 1-4 gallons of water per 1000 sq.ft. Metric: (60-150 ml) in 4-15 liters water per 100 m2

Tree & Shrub General Rate: Initial Application: 32-64 ounces per 100 gal water. Maintenance: 32 ounces per 100 gal water. Metric: 1-2 liters per 375 liters.

Greenhouse General Rate: Initial plug planting or seeding: 16-32 ounces per gallon stock tank at 1:100. Constant feed, 1-2 ounces per gallon stock tank at 1:100. Metric: Initial plug planting or seeding, 1/2-1 liter per 3.75 liter stock tank at 1:100. Constant feed, mix 30-60 ml per 3.75 liter stock tank at 1:100

pH Reducer

pH Reducer is a safe alternative to phosphoric and sulphuric acids for lowering soil and soilless media pH into a more acidic range.

• No mixing or agitation and will not settle out of solution • Ideal for any type of fertigation systems for application ease • Compatible with other technical chemicals, including fungicides and insecticides

*NON FOOD USE ONLY

*SOIL APPLIED ONLY

Turf, Tree & Shrub General Rate: 2-6 fl oz in a minimum of 2 gal water per 1,000 ft2 (60-177 ml per 100 m2)

Greenhouse General Rate: 100 - 150 ppm rate Initial Application: Mix 4 - 6 fl oz per 1 gal. water (118 - 177 ml per 4 L water)

Soil Amendments

Hydro-Max

Hydro-Max is a wetting agent and soil penetrant derived from the Mojave plant (Yucca schidigera). Yucca provides a wide range of multi-functional benefits to both plants and soil conditions. Hydro-Max is compatible with all liquid and soluble fertilizers. It is an environmentally friendly product that can be applied to all soil. It is non-phytotoxic and can even be applied during hot, dry weather conditions.

• Increase Water and Fertilizer Penetration • Loosen Compacted Soils • Help Leach Salts • Alleviates Dry Spots

Turf General Rate: 3 oz per 1,000 sq ft in 1 - 3 gal of water (90 ml per 100m2)

Greenhouse General Rate: Mix 25 oz of Hydro-Max in 1 gallon water to make a concentrate (185 ml per L water)

Tree & Shrub General Rate: 1 oz per 1 gal water

*SOIL APPLIED ONLY

Sodium Knockout 5-0-0 Sodium KnockOut contains readily available calcium and a surfactant/wetting agent, Yucca-schidigera It is an effective tool to reduce sodium levels in soils. It will also increase soil permeability while reducing soluble salts that build up in soils from high water salinity. It can be used on soilless media where excessive salt build up often occurs from continued use of pesticides and high salt fertilizers.

Helps move sodium out of root zone Penetrates into soil quickly Helps reduce stress to plant Improves dry spots and water filtration

Turf General Rate: 3 - 6 ounces per 1,000 square fee (95 - 190 ml per 100 m2)

Greenhouse General Rate: Apply 1-2 quarts per 100 gal water as a soil drench. Repeat every 1-2 months or as needed. (250 - 500 ml per 100 liters water)