SOILS 2015.03.25 BACKYARD CONSERVATION
WORKING LANDSCAPES PLLC Working Landscapes PLLC offers landscape architectural and irrigation design services, with an emphasis on sustainable technologies and techniques. Green Roof Research Mader Residence Rain Garden UW West Campus Housing (w GGN Ltd)
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Soil Weathering Process [src: http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/teachers/madeirosa/unit3.html]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific IDEALIZED SOIL PROFILE O) Organic Matter A) Surface soil: Organics mixed with mineral matter. B) Subsoil C) Parent Rock R) Bedrock USDA [src: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:soil_profile.png]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Soil Water [src: ubc.ca]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Soil Food Web [src: http://www.nacdnet.org/resources/presentations/education]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Soil Health the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments, and maintain plant, animal, and human health. Sustainable Landscape Management: Design, Construction, and Mansgement
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Glaciation [src: pbs.org] Glacial Extent [src: http://www.islandwood.us/loki/geology/ ImagesJPEG/peak_advance.jpg]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Glaciation [src: Geological Hazards in Seattle, Tubbs and Dunne, 1977]
DEFINITIONS WHATCOM Skagit County - Farm Soils General Regional Site Specific Prime Farmland Farmland of Statewide/Unique importance Prime farmland if drained Prime farmland if irrigated Prime farmland if protected from flood WHATCOM SAN JUAN SKAGIT WHATCOM 05SKAGIT WHATCOM 03 01 05 03 01 05 03 01 05 03 SKAGIT WHATCOM 05 03 01 05 01 03 09 01 05 03 09 11 01 07Alger 09 05 03 01 05 03 01 SKAGIT 11 07 09 11 07 09 05 03 01 11 07 09 05 03 01 05 03 01 05 03 01 07 09 11 17 15 11 07 09 11 15 13 17 07 15 13 09 11 07 09 11 17 15 13 17 15 07 09 11 13 17 07 09 11 07 15 09 11 07 09 11 17 15 13 19 21 21 Prairie 13 17 15 13 23 21 23 19 21 23 17 15 13 19 17 21 23 19 21 15 13 17 15 23 19 13 17 15 13 17 15 13 17 15 13 19 21 21 23 29 Thornwood 23 19 21 23 27 27 25 29 27 19 21 23 25 19 21 23 19 21 23 31 27 25 25 29 27 25 29 27 19 21 25 23 19 21 23 19 21 23 29 29 27 25 33 35 35 27 25 29 27Lake Shannon 33 35 25 Edison Bow 31 33 35 29 27 31 25 29 31 27 25 33 35 29 31 27 25 33 29 35 27 31 25 29 27 25 29 27 25 31 33 35 33 31 05 01 35 31 01 05 03 33 35 05 05 01 05 31 03 33 35 31 33 01 35 31 05 03 01 05 33 35 31 03 33 35 31 01 33 35 31 33 35 05 03 01 05 05 03 11 07 03 07 01 09 05 03 11 01 Guemes 07 09 05 03 01 05 03 11 01 07 05 09 11 07 03 09 01 11 Concrete 05 03 01 05 03 01 05 03 01 07 07 09 09 07 09 15 Lyman 11 07 09 17 15 11 13 07 17 15 09 13 11 07 09 13 11 07 17 15 13 17 09 15 Hamilton Marblemount 11 07 09 Leary 13 11 07 09 11 07 09 17 17 15 15 13 17 23 19 15 19 21 13 21 23 17 19 21 15 13 17 23 15 13 19 21 23 19 21 17 15 13 23 17 15 13 17 15 13 17 21 15 Anacortes Sedro-Woolley 19 19 27 21 23 19 25 21 29 23 27 19 29 25 21 29 23 19 27 21 25 23 29 27 25 29 19 Bay View 27 21 23 19 21 25 23 19 21 29 23 19 33 27 25 35 29 27 31 33 31 33 25 35 29 31 27 Burlington 33 35 25 29 31 27 33 35 25 31 33 35 29 27 25 29 31 27 25 33 35 Rockport 29 27 05 31 33 01 05 35 31 05 03 01 Clear Lake 33 03 05 35 03 01 31 33 05 35 03 31 01 01 33 05 35 31 03 33 35 01 31 33 35 05 03 11 01 05 03 07 09 11 01 05 11 07 07 Fredonia 09 11 07 09 03 01 11 05 07 03 09 01 05 03 11 01 05 03 01 05 03 Lake Campbell 07 09 15 11 07 09 11 07 09 13 17 15 13 11 07 13 17 15 09 13 17 11 15 07 09 13 11 17 07 09 11 15 07 09 11 07 09 13 11 19 17 15 23 13 17 15 13 17 15 13 21 23 19 Mount Vernon 21 17 23 15 19 13 17 21 15 13 23 19 17 15 21 13 17 23 15 13 17 15 13 19 21 23 19 21 23 19 27 21 23 2525 29 19 21 27 23 25 29 19 21 27 23 25 19 21 29 23 19 29 27 21 23 19 21 23 33 Big Lake 25 29 27 25 29 27 25 29 27 25 35 La 31 Conner 33 29 35 27 25 31 29 33 27 25 35 31 29 27 33 25 29 27 25 35 29 27 Big Lake 03 01 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 05 31 33 35 03 01 31 05 33 35 03 01 31 33 05 35 31 33 03 35 31 33 35 01 05 07 03 01 05 03 01 05 03 01 11 05 03 01 09 11 07 05 09 03 11 01 07 05 03 01 09 05 03 01 05 11 07 03 09 11 07 09 11 07 09 11 17 07 09 11 15 07 13 17 09 11 15 13 07 09 17 11 07 09 11 15 13 07 09 11 Conway 21 17 15 13 17 15 13 17 15 13 17 15 13 23 17 19 21 15 13 23 17 19 15 21 13 23 17 15 19 13 17 15 21 23 19 21 23 19 21 23 19 21 23 25 19 29 21 23 27 25 19 29 Lake Cavanaugh 21 27 23 19 25 21 23 19 21 29 27 25 29 27 25 29 27 25 29 27 25 31 29 33 27 25 35 29 31 27 33 35 25 29 27 25 31 29 27 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 31 33 35 SKAGIT SNOHOMISH SKAGIT SNOHOMISH D ISLAND SNOHOMISH Skagit County Farm Soils [src: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/services/gis/maps/county/soils/soils29.pdf] ISLAND KITSA Miles
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Bottomlands: Alluvial Soil Skagit soils are very deep and naturally poorly drained, but they have been artificially drained and protected in most areas. Undrained areas of Skagit soils are high in salt content. These soils formed in recent alluvium and volcanic ash. The surface layer is silt loam about 12 inches thick. The upper 38 inches of the underlying material is silt loam and silty clay loam, and the lower part to a depth of 60 inches or more is very fine sandy loam. Skagit Soils [src: http://www.skagitcoop.org/documents/appendix%20b-%20geotechnical%20report.pdf]
DEFINITIONS General Regional Site Specific Uplands: Glacial Till Tokul soils are on glacially modified hills. The soils are moderately deep and moderately well drained. They formed in volcanic ash and loess underlain by glacial till. The surface is covered with a mat of needles, leaves, and twigs. The surface layer and subsoil are gravelly loam about 34 inches thick. The substratum is gravelly sandy loam about 5 inches thick over silicacemented glacial till. Depth to silicacemented glacial till ranges from 20 to 40 inches. NRCS National Soil Information System [src: http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov]
ASSESSMENT: SAMPLING Correct soil sampling is the first step in the process. Some of the important points of soil sampling are: Sample where the plant will be grown, and the depth to which the roots will grow. Divide the area into smaller sub-regions depending on soil type, crop grown, amendments used, etc. Take 10-20 subsamples from throughout each region, mix in a clean bucket and take a sub-sample. Avoid unusual areas such as wetlands, former manure piles, etc. Avoid contaminating the sample; use clean sampling tools. WSU Extension [src: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ch/documents/soiltestinghomegardeners.pdf]
ASSESSMENT: TEXTURE Soil Texture Triangle [src: https://en.wikipedia.org]
ASSESSMENT: TEXTURE Ribbon Test Place 1-2 tsp soil in hand Wet until it forms a ball w/texture of putty Squeeze between thumb and index finger Estimate length when ribbon breaks Ribbon <1 = Loam Ribbon 1-2 = Clay Loam Ribbon >2 = Clay
ASSESSMENT: TEXTURE Jar Test 2 c Water, 1 tsp Detergent Add 1.5 c Soil, SEAL LID, Shake well for 2 min After 1 min measure sediment level, Label SAND
ASSESSMENT: TEXTURE Observation: Compaction
ASSESSMENT: CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
ASSESSMENT: CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
ASSESSMENT: SOIL TESTING LABS Soil Analysis: Washington State University no longer performs soil tests. University labs that are available for soil testing are: 1. the University of Idaho Analytical Sciences Laboratory (http:// www.agls.uidaho.edu/asl/) and 2. University of Massachusetts (http://soiltest.umass.edu/). Both of these labs perform analysis using procedures that will be accurate for soils in western Washington and will provide recommendations.
ACTION! AMEND SOILS New Construction Retain and protect native topsoil & vegetation where practical Restore disturbed soils by tilling 2-3" of compost into upper 8" of soil Loosen compacted subsoil, if needed, by ripping to 12" depth Mulch landscape beds after planting Existing Landscapes Till in compost when re-landscaping Mulch beds with organic mulches Topdress turf with compost Soils for Salmon [src http://www.soilsforsalmon.org/index.htm]
ACTION! AMEND SOILS (p2) Import and apply a topsoil mix: For turf areas: a soil mix including 20-25 percent compost by volume, or a mix with a lab test documenting 5 percent soil organic matter. For planting beds: a soil mix including 35-40 percent compost by volume, or a mix with a lab test documenting 10 percent organic matter. (Goal is 5-10% Soil Organic Matter content by weight.) King County Post Construction Soil Standard [src http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenbuilding/documents/post-construction-soil- Standard.pdf]
ACTION! Products
ACTION! Tools Gardenista [src http://www.gardenista.com/posts/5-favorites-the-dirt-on-broadforks]
ACTION! MULCH Mulch is any organic material spread on the surface to conserve water, control weeds, and slowly feed the soil. Different mulches work better for different plants: Flower beds and vegetable gardens: spread 1-3 inches of fall leaves, compost, grass clippings, or straw. Keep mulch at least an inch away from plant stems. Trees, shrubs, and perennials: spread 2-4 inches of woody mulches, like wood chips (often available from tree services, or in bags or bulk from garden stores) or if chips aren t available, coarse bark (fine bark can plug the soil). Fall leaves also work well to prevent winter weeds and soil erosion. Lawns: mulch mow (leave the clippings). On lawns in poor condition, aerate and then rake in ½ inch of compost in spring or fall. Seattle Public Utilities [src http://www.seattle.gov/util/environmentconservation/mylawngarden/compostsoil/ GrowingHealthySoil/index.htm]
ACTION! Techniques: Sheet Mulch Gaia s Garden [src http://www.patternliteracy.com/books/gaias-garden/how-to-the-ultimate-bomb-proof-sheetmulch]
ACTION! Techniques: Mulch w/ Arborist Chips Gaia s Garden [src http://www.patternliteracy.com/books/gaias-garden/how-to-the-ultimate-bomb-proof-sheetmulch]
ACTION! Techniques: Mulch w/ Shredded Wood/ Beauty bark Gaia s Garden [src http://www.patternliteracy.com/books/gaias-garden/how-to-the-ultimate-bomb-proof-sheetmulch]
ACTION! FERTILIZE Chemical fertilizers can pollute our waterways and damage soil and plant health. The best start for all plants is to amend the soil with compost before planting. Trees, shrubs, and most perennials get all the nutrients they need from healthy soil, and regular mulching with organic matter like compost, leaves, or wood chips. If lawns are yellow or thin, apply a natural organic or slow release fertilizer once a year in September, and top-dress with compost. Vegetables may need an organic fertilizer and mineral supplements as well as compost. Vegetable gardens and lawns may need lime every few years, which supplies calcium and makes other nutrients more available by changing the ph. Seattle Public Utilities [src http://www.seattle.gov/util/environmentconservation/mylawngarden/compostsoil/ GrowingHealthySoil/index.htm]
RESULTS
REALITY Change in tree canopy cover [src http://www.soilsforsalmon.org/pdf/soil_bmp_slideshow.pdf]
RE-ACTION! LID Landscapes Rain Gardens Restoring Predevelopment Hydrology [src http://www.soilsforsalmon.org/pdf/soil_bmp_slideshow.pdf]