Soil Amendment Guide (per 5-gallon bucket of soil)

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Pizza Box Instructions

We now have a clearer picture of what we’re working with, and we’re preparing solutions to address the findings.

After analyzing the soil at Jackson Earth Restoration and Research Center, we learned:

• pH: Alkaline and above 7.5-8 range due to obvious calcium carbonate. 
• Organic matter: Very low (<1%), limiting microbial activity and water retention.
• Texture: Loamy soil with moderate drainage but poor nutrient retention.
• Nutrients:
  • Iron: Present but locked up; chlorosis common.
  • Zinc & Manganese: Deficient soil.
  • Phosphorus: Binding with calcium, reducing availability.
• Salinity: Not Tested

While water, biomass, mulching, and other common practices are important, we wanted to go further and provide a practical ‘recipe’ for addressing deeper soil challenges. To simplify the process, we use a 5‑gallon bucket as our baseline, since it closely matches the soil volume needed for planting one of our small trees. For each tree, we envision an area where three 5‑gallon containers of amended soil would support the establishment of its new root system.

This section is specific to trees that we have already grown and are transplanting.   Some of our mixes will be done dry, while others, closer to the root, will be dissolved in water first and added to water crystals, and placed closest to the root system.  The information below is just a series of recipes, but not all elements are used for every tree. See the list of Amendments and Application methods below: 

Amendment Needed Quantity (per 5 gal soil)

Application Method

Purpose / Notes

Aluminum sulfate

1/2 tbsp

Dissolve in water, then drench the soil with a gallon of water mixed with 5 gallons of soil (Fastest Method, but caution is required. 

Rapid pH reduction; use sparingly to avoid aluminum toxicity.

Ferrous sulfate

1/2 tbsp

Dissolve in water, then drench the soil with a gallon of water mixed with 5 gallons of soil

Adds iron + moderate acidification, safer than aluminum sulfate.

Chelated iron (EDDHA/DTPA)

1¼ tsp powder OR 2–2.5 oz liquid

Dissolve in water; apply as a soil drench or foliar spray

Immediate iron availability: foliar spray gives the fastest correction.

Elemental sulfur

2.5–3 tbsp

Dry mix directly into the soil  (best over time option, this is slower but less harmful to microbes and worms if too much is used)

Long-term pH reduction: microbes oxidize sulfur slowly.

Organic matter (compost/manure)

2–3 cups (well‑decomposed)

Mix the dry into the soil

Improves microbial life, water retention, and nutrient cycling.

Gypsum (calcium sulfate)

2–3 tbsp

Dry mix into the soil

Improves soil structure, adds calcium without raising pH, and reduces sodium issues.

Biochar / Humic acids

½–1 cup biochar OR 1–2 tbsp humic acid granules

Dry mix into the soil

It enriches the soil with carbon, helps stabilize essential nutrients, and fosters a thriving microbial community.

Micronutrients (Zn, Mn, B)

Trace amounts (follow product label; usually <1 tsp)

Dissolve in water or mix dry

Uncovers and restores the nutrients concealed by alkaline soils

Potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄)

1–2 tbsp

Dissolve in water or mix dry

Improves drought tolerance and root strength.

Phosphorus (MAP or similar)

1–2 tbsp

Mix the dry into the soil

Provides available phosphorus; best paired with sulfur to prevent lock-up.

Findings and Solutions:

Without these amendments, transplanted trees would struggle with stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and require years of intensive care to establish. By introducing these ingredients at the time of transplant, however, the soil can begin to recover within weeks. 

While our December transplanting window is not ideal, it aligns with the natural rhythm of deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in fall and rest through winter. Our purpose in December is to anchor the trees in the soil so they can awaken with strength in late March 2026. By April, as Earth Day approaches, we expect to witness the first signs of renewal on our cameras.

We will begin on Christmas Day 2025.