Wolcott Garden Treasures
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Soil Conditioners
Soil conditioners change the texture, quality and composition of soil to make it more hospitable for plants and lawns. The following is a list of the conditioners we carry, and what they do. You may also wish to check out our information on Soil Additives, which include products that feed, fertilize and amend pH levels.
Humus & Manure: our Scotts Humus & Manure mix is a "two-for-one" product. Humus, which consists of fully-decayed organic matter, aids in moisture retention. Humus will change the consistency of the soil, but does not contain nutrients. The manure that it is mixed with acts as a natural fertilizer, making the soil more nutritious for plants. The combination of consistency, moisture retention and nutrition is a great combo for beefing up poor, sandy soil and garden beds.
Peat Moss: like humus, peat moss does not contain nutrients. However, its light and crumbly texture allows it to absorb and retain water and nutrients in the soil. Peat moss will lower pH, making the soil more acidic, so you should add just enough to condition your soil, but not to change the pH too drastically. Acid in soil affects a plant's ability to pull nutrients into its roots, so soil pH that is very low may be detrimental to many ornamentals and perennials. That being said, we carry peat moss in two forms: baled and bagged.
Traditional, baled peat moss is less expensive, but it requires breaking apart and wetting before adding to soil. We also carry Scotts Miracle-Gro sphagnum peat moss, which is a bagged peat moss. Easier to use than the baled variety, this product is already broken apart and pre-moistened, so it's ready to be used right out of the bag. It's more expensive, but also contains Miracle-Gro plant food.
Humus & Manure: our Scotts Humus & Manure mix is a "two-for-one" product. Humus, which consists of fully-decayed organic matter, aids in moisture retention. Humus will change the consistency of the soil, but does not contain nutrients. The manure that it is mixed with acts as a natural fertilizer, making the soil more nutritious for plants. The combination of consistency, moisture retention and nutrition is a great combo for beefing up poor, sandy soil and garden beds.
Peat Moss: like humus, peat moss does not contain nutrients. However, its light and crumbly texture allows it to absorb and retain water and nutrients in the soil. Peat moss will lower pH, making the soil more acidic, so you should add just enough to condition your soil, but not to change the pH too drastically. Acid in soil affects a plant's ability to pull nutrients into its roots, so soil pH that is very low may be detrimental to many ornamentals and perennials. That being said, we carry peat moss in two forms: baled and bagged.
Traditional, baled peat moss is less expensive, but it requires breaking apart and wetting before adding to soil. We also carry Scotts Miracle-Gro sphagnum peat moss, which is a bagged peat moss. Easier to use than the baled variety, this product is already broken apart and pre-moistened, so it's ready to be used right out of the bag. It's more expensive, but also contains Miracle-Gro plant food.
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