The whole back yard is like that, you dig down about three to four inches and then hit this rock hard aggregate zone. Whacking it with a hand pick slowly breaks it up but OMG it's hard work. Good thing the wife doesn't want to plant Spring bulbs.... On 9/13/07, dbledutch@cox.net wrote: > > I have seen a D9 Cat with a single tooth ripper only scratch the top of > caliche. The area was drilled and dynamited to fracture the caliche then > equipment could begin to work the area. So bring in the BIG GUNS when > dealing with caliche. Or as the AG Dept says "Do you really want to plant > right there?" \:~) > > ---- ShadowAce wrote: > > Here is an Article from the AG department: It might help.. > > > > > http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news/azdailystar/dealing_soil_problems.html > > Dealing with Caliche and Other Desert Soil Problems > > > > A recent caller was in hopes that pouring pool acid into a bed on > caliche > > would somehow loosen it up. Applying acid makes sense, as caliche is a > layer > > of lime (calcium carbonate) which forms in our desert soils. The problem > is, > > it doesn't work. > > > > You would probably have to pour a tanker truck full of sulfuric acid in > a > > hole with caliche to make much of a difference. Mostly what you would > get is > > a lot of alka seltzer-type fizzing. > > > > Dealing with caliche isn't easy. Digging it out can be an arduous task. > > People use everything from picks to jack hammers with mixed results. If > the > > caliche is fractured or cracked, which is often the case, it is easier > to > > remove. If it is solid, it can be as hard, and impervious as concrete. > > > > The first thing you must decide is: do I really need to plant in this > spot? > > Sometimes just moving the planting hole a few feet over may provide > space > > for digging. If it's a garden you want, think about constructing a > raised > > bed. Good soil can then be added to your frame to grow whatever you > want. > > This is a great way to grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs. > > > > If your planting trees or shrubs, consider mounding up your plants so > they > > can grow above the caliche. This works if you have at least 8 or 10 > inches > > of top soil overlying the caliche layer. > > > > Dig a hole down to the caliche. Next, test the drainage by filling the > hole > > with water several times during the day. Drainage is poor if water is > still > > standing 24 hours after the last filling. It may be necessary to place a > > drainage chimney through the caliche. This chimney hole should be dug to > the > > side, not directly under where the plant will sit. The drainage hole > should > > be about 6 inches in diameter, and filled with soil (not gravel). > > > > For shallow hole planting above caliche use plants in small containers. > For > > instance, buy a tree in a small 5 gallon pot. This way a good part of > the > > root ball can be set into a shallow hole. Mounding up soil up around the > > exposed portion of the root ball will allow roots to grow out and into > the > > surrounding soil. This mounded soil should be gradually tapered away > from > > the plant so that it eventually blends into the surrounding soil. > > > > Even if caliche is not present, it is often hard to dig in our desert > soils. > > This is due to a high clay content and also gravel. Wetting the soil > before > > digging makes the work easier. If you're putting in a lawn, vegetable > garden > > or flower bed, tilling in lots of organic matter will really improve the > > soil. The organic matter can be desert compost, peat, or composted horse > or > > cow manure. A three or four inch layer mixed into the top foot of soil > will > > make future digging and planting easier. Plant roots will also have an > > easier time growing in this improved soil. > > > > Do not amend the soil when planting trees and shrubs. Research has shown > > that adding organic matter to the planting holes of trees and shrubs is > > detrimental to their growth. Simply fill in around the roots with the > same > > desert soil which you dug out of the hole. > > > > Our desert soils are rich in most nutrients. However they are often > lacking > > in nitrogen and phosphorous. These are the first two of the three number > > analysis listed prominently on the fertilizer bag. Nitrogen can be > surface > > applied and will move down into the soil. Phosphorous moves very little > in > > the soil and therefore is most effective when mixed into the soil at the > > time of planting. > > > > Iron deficiencies also develop on some acid loving plants such as > gardenia, > > rose, citrus, bottlebrush, and nandina. Although there is sufficient > iron in > > the soil, it is not available to these plants because our soils are > > alkaline. Typical iron deficiency symptoms appear as chlorosis of the > new > > foliage in which leaves are yellow with the veins appearing as fine > green > > lines. Eventually entire leaves can turn yellow. Iron deficiencies can > be > > corrected by the addition of chelated iron to the soil. Chelated iron is > a > > water soluble form of iron available to the plant even in alkaline > soils. > > > > > > On 9/12/07, Richard Daines wrote: > > > > > > Not a geocaching question since we are not allow to dig or use pointy > > > objects to make holes but I can't see that that is a problem for > Arizonans > > > in the desert areas since I find it virtually impossible to dig a hole > in > > > this caliche soil. I believe it's also known as hardpan. Just how to > you > > > guys dig a hole, my gosh, I just wanted to plant a few cacti before > the > > > temps went over 100F one morning. > > > ____________________________________________________________ > > > Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com > > > To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: > > > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > > > > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > > > http://www.azgeocaching.com > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com > To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > http://www.azgeocaching.com >