My dad being lazy dumped used cat litter in a garden I hadn't fixed yet...what do I do to fix the soil?
Question:Its long since turned into a thick clay mess I can't dispose of, what should I do to fix the soil phand composition so things can grow back there
Answers:
Dig contaminated soil out with a shovel! Fill in hole with other dirt!
lots of water.
Remove the litter and its contents with a sturdy shovel and properly dispose of it in the trash. Fill the empty space with peat moss and clean top soil.
I would plant only flowers or shrubs in that area this season. You don't want vegetable plants growing near contaminated soil since cat feces can transmit viruses to humans.
Ugh. Sorry.
The addition of cat litter will have added mosly clay, as you noticed. The proportion of waste to litter is usually quite small, unless the litter was extremely soiled.
From what you wrote I take it it's been a while, so I wouldn't worry to much about contaminants. Maybe wait one season before you plant any edibles there.
The waste will have added mostly nitrogen, which isn't bad, and it might be slightly acidic, which you can balance with a small addition of lime.
Your biggest problem is the clay. The best thing you can do is add as much organic matter to the area as you can manage. I would suggest adding a generous amount of both peat moss (which will help lighten and aerate the soil) and well-rotted manure, and mix it in well. Stick to annuals in that area, because you might want to repeat the process every year for a while.
Dig the litter out and replace it with good soil
Never plant veggies where there have been cat feces. Some of the parasites are dangerous to humans.
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