Vertical Mulching and Worms in Soil with Glynn Percival

In this episode of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast we speak to Dr. Glynn Percival, Manager of Bartlett's Tree Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Reading, UK who has been using vertical mulching techniques to improve soil texture. His strategy is to drill holes into the soil that are 12 inches deep and 3 inches wide. He then fills the holes with a mixture of topsoil, compost, biochar. And he also puts worms into the holes and in various spots on the site and lets them do the rest of the work. This month's recommended resource is a Silky Sugoi 360 Pruning Saw from Bartlett Tree Experts. You can download Glynn's PowerPoint presentation referred to in the show by clicking here. The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/booksShe is also the creator of five-star rated premium online fruit tree care education at: https://learn.orchardpeople.comHOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCASTThe show airs on the last Tuesday of every month on RealityRadio101 at 1:00 PM ET! While it’s no longer live, you can still watch or listen anytime—and catch the recorded podcast anytime afterward.📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs. ✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/For premium fruit tree care education visit: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!(00:00) - Introduction and Community Orchard Update (00:46) - Challenges of Poor Quality Soil (01:23) - Guest Introduction: Glynn Percival (01:54) - Understanding Soil Compaction (04:59) - Symptoms of Tree Stress (09:50) - Vertical Mulching Explained (15:11) - Listener Questions and Expert Advice (25:37) - Gentle Care for Old Trees (26:11) - Vertical Mulching Techniques (27:38) - Stockley Park Experiment (29:48) - Implementing Worm Technology (36:02) - Measuring Success at Stockley Park (40:25) - Additional Fruit Tree Care During Decompaction of Soil (41:41) - Meeting Royalty (44:05) - Conclusion and Farewell