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Zurich, Ontario Canada

My patch is very compacted as a result of heavy rains. I started cultivating but found I was clipping roots. Do i just leave it alone or is there another way to airate without disturbing roots.

8/6/2014 8:01:45 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

A lot of times rain will just compact the top inch or two. I saw a lot of that in corn and soybean fields around here in 1993 when the whole Midwest was under water. Rain drops just don't have enough energy to compact very deep, and when they get a crust formed it actually protects the deeper soil. I wouldn't risk any root damage.

8/6/2014 9:36:04 PM

Rhode Island

a broad fork driven into the soil, then just rock back slightly, will get that soil loosened up.
a pitch fork is also good.
compacted soil is very unhealthy for the plant and makes nutrient uptake that much harder to work through out the soil.
pap

8/7/2014 5:47:55 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

Thanks

8/8/2014 6:21:45 PM