Soil Secrets

The images below were taken by Soil Secrets Dealer David Hilton near Modesto California.  The site is Aaron's Cook Ranch, a significant almond producer in the State of California.  In recent years the Almond production industry has been impacted by increasing salinity of the soil, caused by drought and poor quality irrigation pumped ground water.  Summer of 2013 was particularly destructive to the crop, with many farmers losing trees and even removing orchards that are failing.   The Cook Ranch treated 20 acres using 600 pounds of TerraPro per acre banded 4 to 6 inches wide on top of the drip irrigation line.  TerraPro is a soil conditioner containing as an active ingredient a novel bio-organic matrix of supramolecular humic molecules.  The trees were also foliar sprayed with an AGGRAND organic nutrient product to provide essential nutrition while also avoiding adding additional salinity via a standard fertilizer.  I'll write another blog on ...

Often our western soils have a problem with many of the 42 essential elements of plant nutrition being inhibited by the alkaline chemistry of the soil.  This simply means that the elements such as iron, zinc, copper, calcium, etc, etc, etc, are cemented into the matrix of the soil by way of a precipitation reaction called concretion.   This is where the term ‘Concrete’ comes from, where the mineral elements are not soluble with just water.  The process of getting these elements available for plant uptake requires a “solutioning” of the elements from the concreted soil, which is provided by the supramolecular chemistry of the organic matrix of humic molecules, and by the mycorrhizal fungi that are hopefully also present.    It’s one of the Mechanisms of Action for the Humic Molecules and the Mode of Action for the Mycorrhizal fungi.  Another limiting factor is the availability of nitrogen in the form of amino acids, caused by a slow or weak ...

The Problem with Western Soils in Agriculture and in Urban Landscaping:  Here's a Solution Water is a growing concern in the arid West and it's a problem that will never go away.   This paper addresses two situations that contraindicate the efficient use of water in both urban landscaping and in agriculture, particularly where irrigation is essential. Soil Compaction: The first problem I'll cover is the compaction of soil.  This prevents water from  penetrating to an adequate depth, allowing roots to also grow deep, therefore providing plants with a greater contact zone with soil, where water and element nutrients can be found and sequestered.  Compaction also causes a problem with roots rotting due to the soil being airless (anaerobic).  Like us, roots and the beneficial microbes of soil need oxygen in order to survive and function properly, so compacted soils limit the functionality of roots and all the beneficial soil microbes....

You are invited to the annual Spring Garden Fair at Arboretum Tomé on Saturday, May 31st. The Garden Fair will host two soil expert lectures beginning at 10 a.m. New Mexico State University agronomist Rudy Garcia, a USDA soil scientist with the National Resource Conservation Service, will discuss how to improve local soils to grow healthier, more nutritious crops, more sustainable lawns and robust trees. “He will talk more about the science of how soils work and how to fix them and make them healthier" Kim Costion, of Ashokala Gardens in Snowflake, Ariz.,, will tell her personal story how she converted a desert soil into a fertile farm able to feed many families. “She will show you pictures of building three to four inches of black topsoil in three years, even out in the desert”. Follow this link to read more…   http://www.news-bulletin.com/2014/05/21/news/spring-garden-party-to-provide-education-entertainment.html

Gardeners, farmers, and students interested in learning more about how to build healthy, moisture-retaining soils are invited to the annual Spring Garden Fair at Arboretum Tomé on Saturday, May 31st. Follow this link to read more…  http://www.news-bulletin.com/2014/05/21/news/spring-garden-party-to-provide-education-entertainment.html

Come and see how a Healthy Soil, developed by the exclusive use of Soil Secrets Products, can support a great abundance and variety of shrubs and trees! Enjoy the shade and abundant plant life at the Arboretum Tomé Annual  Open House and Garden Party.

We are proud to announce the Featured Speakers at this year’s   Arboretum Tomé Annual Open House and Garden Party Lectures Begin at 10:00   Rudy Garcia, State Agronomist for New Mexico “How better soil health relates to increased water conservation and a healthier garden or landscape”. Kim Costion of Ashokala Gardens Arizona “A growers experience: building a healthy soil to increase garden health and productivity”. Arboretum Tomé Annual Open House and Garden Party May 31 st from 9:30am to 4:30pm Free!! Location:  9 Gilcrease Road, Los Lunas New Mexico 87031 For Additional Information Contact: Trees That Please Nursery Winter hours: Mon-Sat 9:00 to 4:30,  Sunday 11:00 to 4:00 Phone: 505-866-5027 Trees That Please is located at 3084 Highway 47, Los Lunas NM 87031 Email treesthatplease@comcast.net Visit our web site at: treesthatplease.org