So, I finally got the results of the free water test from Home Depot. The form asks for you address and email address but they don't make any attempt to contact you by either of those methods. They tried calling me while my cell phone was off for a few days. No other attempt at contact made.
The results were basically useless. The only result given was dissolved solids. Nothing else.
What was a surprise was that the well water had only marginally more dissolved solids than the municipal water. However, the breakdown of what those solids are makes all the difference. And that's what the test results do not tell you.
Of course, the purpose is to try and sell you a water softening or filtration unit, which is expected.
I'll have to see how much a more defined water test costs.
Doing more flooding in the garden today. Right now, just dispensing with the sprinkler and letting the hose run wide open on the ground.
Added a second hose at a lower rate to soak around the biggest grape vine, on the opposite side of the yard. I seriously pruned that one back a few weeks ago and piled compost and gypsum around the base.
Took the soil pH meter out this morning and tested a few spots in the main garden. Still intensely alkaline. Not a surprise. I'll have to treat heavily with acid all summer. Problem right now is that much of the spinach and lettuce is growing down in the trenches because the dogs knocked the tops of the mounds off, spreading the seeds downward. Luckily, those don't require much acidity. So, as they grow larger I can harvest the ones in the trenches or transplant them before treating with acid in the trenches. Going to treat the soil in the trenches for weed control and to avoid burning crops, as the acid will seep more gradually to the root zone of crop plants. That avoids burning foliage.
I started using well water for the house plants. Making a huge difference! They have been growing faster and look much greener than before! Nice!
The results were basically useless. The only result given was dissolved solids. Nothing else.
What was a surprise was that the well water had only marginally more dissolved solids than the municipal water. However, the breakdown of what those solids are makes all the difference. And that's what the test results do not tell you.
Of course, the purpose is to try and sell you a water softening or filtration unit, which is expected.
I'll have to see how much a more defined water test costs.
Doing more flooding in the garden today. Right now, just dispensing with the sprinkler and letting the hose run wide open on the ground.
Added a second hose at a lower rate to soak around the biggest grape vine, on the opposite side of the yard. I seriously pruned that one back a few weeks ago and piled compost and gypsum around the base.
Took the soil pH meter out this morning and tested a few spots in the main garden. Still intensely alkaline. Not a surprise. I'll have to treat heavily with acid all summer. Problem right now is that much of the spinach and lettuce is growing down in the trenches because the dogs knocked the tops of the mounds off, spreading the seeds downward. Luckily, those don't require much acidity. So, as they grow larger I can harvest the ones in the trenches or transplant them before treating with acid in the trenches. Going to treat the soil in the trenches for weed control and to avoid burning crops, as the acid will seep more gradually to the root zone of crop plants. That avoids burning foliage.
I started using well water for the house plants. Making a huge difference! They have been growing faster and look much greener than before! Nice!
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