Q. I have cats that use my raised beds instead of their
litter box. I planned on using chicken wire to help keep them out in the spring.
Is my soil is ruined because of their urine and excrement? Does the ammonia
from the urine alter the pH?
A. No, it’s not ruined. Just rake out the feces and it
will be fine. The urine is much less of a problem than the feces. If you
organic garden at all it is similar to other animal manures.
The only
problem would be for pregnant women. A summary of this problem can be found on
the CDD website. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pregnant.htm
.
problem would be for pregnant women. A summary of this problem can be found on
the CDD website. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pregnant.htm
.
It is
highly advisable pregnant women should not garden in this soil, handle freshly
harvested vegetables or fruit coming from this spot without someone else thoroughly
cleaning the produce before handling.
highly advisable pregnant women should not garden in this soil, handle freshly
harvested vegetables or fruit coming from this spot without someone else thoroughly
cleaning the produce before handling.
I would
give the garden spot a thorough soaking before planting to flush excess salts.
As with anything else, you should always wash your hands after gardening or handling
fresh produce from soils containing any kind of compost. That goes for
everyone.
give the garden spot a thorough soaking before planting to flush excess salts.
As with anything else, you should always wash your hands after gardening or handling
fresh produce from soils containing any kind of compost. That goes for
everyone.
The pH
of our soil is very difficult to change for any length of time due to its high
calcium carbonate (lime) levels. It just goes back up to wherever it was,
usually around 8.2 or higher in unamended soil and about 7.6-7.8 for desert
composted soils.
of our soil is very difficult to change for any length of time due to its high
calcium carbonate (lime) levels. It just goes back up to wherever it was,
usually around 8.2 or higher in unamended soil and about 7.6-7.8 for desert
composted soils.