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Shrubs
kitasei

Planting Calycanthus

7 years ago

I transplanted a three year old calycanthus to a place where logs had completely rotted. The soil is so... peaty? It felt like I was planting in peat moss The rootball was the size of a bowling ball. Should I be concerned about the composition of the soil, or rather lack of it? Is rotted wood a nutritious or deficient medium?

Featured Answer
  • 7 years ago

    I would be most concerned about the area sinking as the wood continues to rot, leaving the plant sitting too low, and also that if the area dries out, it will be difficult to get it to rewet. Typically you want a mix of mineral soil with organic matter, though I can’t remember recommended percentages. If the wood is that well rotted, I cannot imagine that it will be using nutrients such as nitrogen, though that can be an issue with fresh wood. As it continues to rot from the stage it is in, it is likely to be slowly releasing nutrients as it breaks down.

    Comments (6)

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