Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Where Is The Policy Number On Anthem Insurance Card

Your overall health is important to us, and the university offers a variety of benefits to help support your physical and mental health. University of Louisville offers four health plans through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Who we areAnthem, Inc. is one of the largest health benefits companies in the United States. With local service and the value of the Blue Cross brand, we have been committed to ensuring our members have access to affordable health benefits for over 80 years. Sharp Health Plan continues to be recognized in California and nationally for their high-quality care and service. They are the highest member-rated health plan in California, and they also hold the highest member ratings for health care, personal doctor and specialist among reporting California health plans.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Your overall health is important to us

As part of Sharp HealthCare's integrated delivery system, Sharp Health Plan directly connects members to an expansive network of nationally recognized doctors, elite-rated medical groups and hospitals. This plan combines traditional medical coverage with a Health Savings Account . Under this plan, all covered services (except preventive services/prescriptions) are subject to the annual deductible. The deductible is a dollar amount of out-of-pocket costs you must pay each year before the plan will begin paying its share of your healthcare expenses. The nice thing about this plan is that you can pay for that deductible using the tax-free funds in your HSA. Once the deductible has been met, most in-network services are covered with a 20% coinsurance.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - University of Louisville offers four health plans through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Finally, you might see a dollar amount, such as $10 or $25. This is usually the amount of your co-payment, or "co-pay." A co-pay is a set amount you pay for a certain type of care or medicine. Some health insurance plans do not have co-pays, but many do.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Who we areAnthem

If you see several dollar amounts, they might be for different types of care, such as office visits, specialty care, urgent care, and emergency room care. If you see 2 different amounts, you might have different co-pays for doctors in your insurance company's network and outside the network. If you do not see your coverage amounts and co-pays on your health insurance card, call your insurance company . Ask what your coverage amounts and co-pays are, and find out if you have different amounts and co-pays for different doctors and other health care providers. Once funds are deposited into your HSA, those funds can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free, even if you no longer have high-deductible health plan coverage. The funds in your account automatically roll over each year and remain in the account indefinitely until used.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - With local service and the value of the Blue Cross brand

Once you discontinue coverage under a high-deductible health plan and/or get coverage under another health plan that disqualifies you from an HSA, you can no longer make contributions to your HSA. However, since you own the HSA, you can continue to use it for future qualified medical expenses. If you're an HMO member, you will need to receive services from an in-network HMO provider. However, you will be able to receive emergency or urgent care services no matter where you are. For details about your coverage, please review your Blue KC certificate, which outlines the benefits and exclusions related to your health insurance plan.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Sharp Health Plan continues to be recognized in California and nationally for their high-quality care and service

You can view your certificate by logging in and accessing the Plan Benefit section. However, not all small, independent pharmacies have the correct computer system to validate your transaction, in which case you'll need to pay for the prescription using another form of payment. In 2004, WellPoint Health Networks Inc and Anthem, Inc. merged and became the nation's leading health benefits company. In December 2014 WellPoint Inc. changed its corporate name to Anthem, Inc. Anthem has about 40 million members and is ranked 33rd on the Fortune 500.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - They are the highest member-rated health plan in California

To enroll in a high-deductible health plan, complete the Blue KC application process. The Blue-Saver® PPO health insurance plan is a high-deductible health plan that allows you to establish an HSA as part of your health benefits. When you enroll in the Blue Saver plan, you may be offered the opportunity to establish a HSA with one of our preferred banks. You will be presented with appropriate banking authorizations and disclosures necessary for Blue KC to work with the bank that will establish your HSA. Please note all financial institutions offering HSA products must comply with the USA Patriot Act, requiring your HSA bank to collect and verify information about you when processing your HSA application. Once your HSA has been established, you will be mailed a welcome kit and HSA debit card from the bank.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - As part of Sharp HealthCares integrated delivery system

A qualified health-deductible health plan is a health plan with an annual deductible for an individual or a family that meet the minimum deductible amount published annually by the U.S. The annual out-of-pocket expenses required by the high-deductible health plan also does not exceed the out-of-pocket maximums published by the U.S. Out-of-pocket expenses include deductibles, copayments and other amounts the member must pay for, but do not include premiums or amounts incurred for non-covered benefits. A Health Savings Account allows members enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan to contribute funds on a tax-free basis into the member's account. A member's employer may also contribute funds to the account.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - This plan combines traditional medical coverage with a Health Savings Account

These funds are used for payment of qualified medical expenses as defined by the IRS. Unused funds in an HSA roll over in the member's account at the end of each calendar year. You pay 20% of the cost for all specialist office visits after you meet the annual deductible. Your specialist may charge you up to the full amount of your deductible at the time of service, and you may need to file a claim to get reimbursed.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Under this plan

You can visit any provider or specialist of your choice without preauthorization from your primary care doctor. Because of its large network of providers, giving you many choices for where you get medical services. Anthem has a variety of health insurance plans available including options for individuals, families, Medicare, Medicaid and group insurance. After the funds in your PCA have been used, you will be responsible for a certain amount of your healthcare costs until your deductible amount has been met. You do have the benefit of the negotiated prices for healthcare from network providers, but you will pay for all of the healthcare until your individual or family deductible is met. Each payment you make for covered healthcare services you've received from your providers such as a physical exam counts toward your deductible.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - The deductible is a dollar amount of out-of-pocket costs you must pay each year before the plan will begin paying its share of your healthcare expenses

Once Blue KC processes the claims we receive from your providers showing the payments that you have made for covered healthcare services, we apply those payments toward your deductible. You can continue to use the funds in your account tax-free for out-of-pocket health expenses. If you enroll in Medicare, you can use your account to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance under any part of Medicare.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - The nice thing about this plan is that you can pay for that deductible using the tax-free funds in your HSA

If you have retiree health benefits through your former employer, you can also use your account to pay for your share of retiree medical insurance premiums. The one expense you cannot use your account for is to purchase a Medicare supplement insurance or "Medigap" policy. Under the last-month rule, if you are an eligible individual on the first day of the last month of your tax year , you are considered an eligible individual for the entire year.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Once the deductible has been met

You are treated as having the same high-deductible health plan coverage for the entire year as you had on the first day of that last month. The total contribution for the year can be made in one or more payments at any time up to your tax-filing deadline . However, if you wish to have a contribution made between January 1 and April 15 treated as a contribution for the preceding tax year, please contact the HSA bank. You cannot use HSA funds to pay for qualified medical expenses incurred before you enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. In order to establish an HSA, you must enroll in a high-deductible health plan. Your eligibility to contribute to an HSA is determined by the effective date of your high-deductible health plan coverage.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Finally

To change a PCP, log in and visit you Profile by clicking on the icon by your name in the top right corner of your homepage. In the Coverage Information section you'll see a list of covered members for your Blue KC policy. From here select "Change PCP" for the appropriate member and you can search for and designate a new PCP. Once we have processed your PCP change request, we will send you a new member ID card that contains the information of your newly selected PCP.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - This is usually the amount of your co-payment

You may also call the Customer Service number listed on your member ID card to change your PCP. Please note that if you have health insurance through your employer, you may be required to contact your group benefits administrator to change your PCP. Sometimes providers send statements to their patients before Blue KC has finished processing and paying the claim. You might see a note on the bill that says "Insurance Pending." We will send you an Explanation of Benefits once we have processed your claim. If you are still unsure if you owe the provider, call their billing office. Please note, if your provider was not in the Blue KC HMO network, you will be responsible for paying all services and fees for seeing that provider.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Some health insurance plans do not have co-pays

You can view your EOBs and details about your claims, including how much you owe, by logging in and visiting the Claims and Usage section. WHA offers affordable, quality health care to its neighbors in Marin, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo and parts of Colusa, El Dorado, Humboldt, and Placer counties. UnitedHealthcare Signature1 - The Signature plan includes our full network of contracted providers.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - If you see several dollar amounts

With this HMO plan, members simply choose a primary care physician from our full network of contracted providers to coordinate all their medical care. They can then visit their PCP for routine checkups, and when they need to see a specialist, their PCP provides a referral. Members are charged only a copayment for each doctor's visit. The MetLife DHMO plans provide access to a large network of dental providers throughout California. Preventive dental care is an important part of overall health and MetLife is committed to ensuring that its members receive a high level of dental care.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - If you see 2 different amounts

As part of this commitment, all Quality Management Activities are designed to meet or exceed NCQA standards. These standards are applied to plan design, through the credentialing of network providers, member services standards and on-going peer review and facility audits. If you use an in-network provider, you don't need to file a claim — your doctor will file one with Anthem. Anthem will then pay your doctor amounts it covers under the Health Account Plan and send you an Explanation of Benefits . The health care network specified by your Anthem insurance policy will determine whether you have access to in-network providers in other states. When submitting an out-of-state claim, you must contact Anthem's customer service department because the process may be different.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - If you do not see your coverage amounts and co-pays on your health insurance card

When you elect the Anthem PPO HDHP, you are also eligible to elect a Health Savings Account , a special tax-advantaged bank account to help cover your out-of-pocket healthcare costs. You might see another list with 2 different percent amounts. The "coverage amount" tells you how much of your treatment costs the insurance company will pay. This information might be on the front of your insurance card. It is usually listed by percent, such as 10 percent, 25 percent, or 50 percent.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Ask what your coverage amounts and co-pays are

For example, if you see 4 different percent amounts, they could be for office visits, specialty care, urgent care, and emergency room care. If you lose your health insurance card with your policy and group number on it, it is important to contact your health insurance company right away and let them know. Call your insurance provider's customer service number and a representative should be able to help you. Your health insurance policy number is typically your member ID number. This number is usually located on your health insurance card so it is easily accessible and your health care provider can use it to verify your coverage and eligibility. Centura Health accepts and bills most major insurance companies as a source of payment.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Once funds are deposited into your HSA

However, some of their benefit plans do not cover treatment at some Centura Health locations. It is recommended that you contact your insurance company directly if you have any questions about coverage at a Centura Health location. The maximum amount that may be contributed to your HSA for any year is a certain amount established annually by the IRS. This amount depends on whether you have individual or family coverage under your qualified high-deductible health plan.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - The funds in your account automatically roll over each year and remain in the account indefinitely until used

The same annual contribution limit applies regardless of whether the contributions are made by an employee, an employer or both. If the provider you saw is out-of-network you will be responsible for paying the provider directly. We will send you a payment for the amount that is covered by your plan. With Sutter Health Plus, members gain access to an integrated network of high-quality healthcare providers, including many of Sutter Health's hospitals, doctors and healthcare services.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - Once you discontinue coverage under a high-deductible health plan andor get coverage under another health plan that disqualifies you from an HSA

When you go to an appointment with your health care provider, they will ask you for your insurance information. If you use an out-of-network provider, you may need to pay your doctor up front and then file a claim with Anthem. Anthem will then pay your doctor amounts it covers under the HAP and send you an EOB. If you elected the Health Care Flexible Spending Account , the money in your FSA will be used first to reimburse you for any out-of-pocket health care expenses—since the FSA has a "use-it or lose-it" rule.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - However

Where Is The Policy Number Located On Anthem Insurance Card HealthEquity | WageWorks administers your FSA and will automatically debit your FSA first to pay for any out-of-pocket medical expenses. If you don't have enough in your FSA to cover the expenses, HealthEquity | WageWorks will then debit your Health Account. Health coverage through Anthem offers access to an extensive network of providers for all your medical, prescription drug and mental health care needs. It is assigned to your employer by the insurance company and can also be beneficial for both you and your health care provider in finding out what your coverage entails and submitting claims. Routine Preventive care is a care benefit that is not subject to a deductible. Distributions used for any other purpose are includable in income and may also be subject to an additional 20 percent tax.

Where Is The Policy Number Located On Anthem Insurance Card

This 20-percent penalty tax does not apply to distributions made after your death, disability or attainment of age 65. A deductible is the amount that you are responsible for paying annually for healthcare services. Exceptions are outlined in your Blue KC certificate, which lists the exclusions related to your health insurance plan.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - However

A copayment, or copay, is the dollar amount that you pay to a provider at the time you receive a service. For example, you might pay a $30 copay each time you visit your allergy doctor. The copay amount is defined in your Blue KC certificate, which outlines your responsibilities for health insurance plan payments. Allowable charges are the maximum amount payable to you under your health insurance plan for a particular service.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - For details about your coverage

Contracted providers have agreed to accept this amount as payment in full. For example, if the provider charges $100 for a service and Blue KC pays $80 as the allowable charge, the provider cannot ask the member to pay the remaining $20. Keep in mind, however, that some health insurance plans have coinsurance. In those cases, members are required to pay a percentage of the allowable charge. For specific details about your plan, review your Blue KC certificate, which outlines your payment responsibility. There are two times you can make a change to your enrollment options.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - You can view your certificate by logging in and accessing the Plan Benefit section

Your employer schedules an open enrollment period once a calendar year when all employees may make changes to their health insurance plan. You may also make a change during a special enrollment period if you acquire a new dependent or if your coverage is terminated under another health insurance plan. If you have health insurance through an employer, your group benefits administrator, typically someone in your Human Resources department, can help you make changes to your health insurance plan.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - However

If you do not have health insurance through an employer and instead pay your monthly premiums directly to Blue KC, call the Customer Service number listed on your member ID card. When you see an out-of-network provider, we send a check to you for the covered amount of those services. We will send you an EOB that explains how that amount was calculated. Our Signature plan offers access to a full network of contracted providers with more than 62,590 physicians and health care professionals, and 273 hospitals. The Advantage, Alliance and Harmony plans offer the same level of benefit coverage as our Signature plan but has a narrower network of contracted providers. You can find listings for physicians and hospitals in our provider directories.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - In 2004

UnitedHealthcare of California is committed to providing quality coverage and affordable benefits to help keep you and your family healthy. Our plans offer more than just doctor visits; preventive care services are also provided for every member of the family. Behavioral health benefits are provided through Anthem Blue Cross.

where is the policy number on anthem insurance card - In December 2014 WellPoint Inc

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

How Do You Improve Hard Soil

Along with roots sitting in wet soil, compacted soil that doesn't drain well can also contribute to run off meaning water doesn't get absorbed at all. Plant roots can also be starved of oxygen if the soil is compacted. Incorporating it into your garden soil will help break it up and help aerate for healthier roots.

How do you improve hard soil - Along with roots sitting in wet soil

Soil conditioners can also help or try green manure and leaf mulch. Organic matter works to improve both soil structure and nutrient content. In light, sandy soils it works as glue, binding particles together to improve its ability to retain moisture and nutrients. Conversely, it opens up heavy clay soils so they can drain more easily. But no matter what your soil type, it will truly benefit from regular applications of organic matter to feed and sustain the plants grown in it. Cover crops, also called green manure crops, help loosen clay or compacted soils with their roots and by adding organic matter.

How do you improve hard soil - Plant roots can also be starved of oxygen if the soil is compacted

They also prevent nutrient loss and erosion during the non-growing season. Leguminous cover crops, such as winter rye, alfalfa, hairy vetch and clover, which add nitrogen to the soil, are usually planted at the end of summer or early fall. Regularly spreading organic matter over the soil surface is the best long-term solution to soil compaction. Organic matter includes compost, shredded leaf mulch, wood chips, straw and chopped leaves. Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost or a layer of wood chips or shredded leaf mulch 2 to 3 inches deep over bare soil in flower beds. Without any further help, soil organisms will incorporate the organic matter and begin to open up the soil.

How do you improve hard soil - Incorporating it into your garden soil will help break it up and help aerate for healthier roots

If you'd like to quickly break up a hard soil surface for planting, mix the organic matter into the top 3 to 6 inches of soil with a spade. To help soften hard soil in a vegetable garden, add a 2-inch layer of compost twice a year and mix it into the top 2 inches of soil. If the soil in your garden or vegetable patch is bare over winter, spread a layer of mulch over it to protect it from heavy rainfall. Along with adding compost, a second strategy for adding organic matter to my clay soil is cover cropping. I plant cover crops any time the beds in my garden would otherwise be unplanted or fallow.

How do you improve hard soil - Soil conditioners can also help or try green manure and leaf mulch

Fallow periods provide little additional organic biomass while allowing the decomposition of organic matter in the soil to continue. They contribute to the improvements in soil structure that I described earlier. And they can smother weeds and even suppress weed seed germination. Many cover crops will also suppress pathogenic nematodes, for example root knot nematode. At the opposite end of the scale from sandy soil are clay soils.

How do you improve hard soil - Organic matter works to improve both soil structure and nutrient content

These hold water and nutrients very well but don't drain as well as sandy soils, especially if compacted, a common situation for lawns with a clay soil base. During the initial, pre-garden phase of my soil improvement plan, I managed to break up 10 inches of hard-packed clay with endless swings of my trusty mattock. I spread compost over the surface of the beds an inch at a time and rototilled it in. I was careful not to work the clay when it was too wet, because clay worked wet can result in some tenacious clods, very reluctant in their willingness to ever come apart again.

How do you improve hard soil - In light

I tried to work the compost deep into the soil, and along with it, I added lime and phosphorus, the clay soil in my garden needing both. When surface-applied, neither of these materials moves down through the soil, so incorporation to ample depth is very important to permit roots to grow into the subsoil. After 3 to 4 inches of compost, I had the "raised bed" I wanted.

How do you improve hard soil - Conversely

Weighty gardening equipment, foot traffic and heavy downpours cause soil compaction, and clay and loam soils are most susceptible. However, even sandy soils can harden when compressed by heavy equipment. Excessive weight and rain close the open pores between the soil particles; as a result, the soil hardens. Clay soils often drain very slowly after rainfall, and then they harden and crack when the weather turns dry and warm. To avoid compacting soil, create paths to avoid walking on growing areas. Don't dig the soil excessively or when it's wet, and don't mix sand into clay soil, which makes it like concrete.

How do you improve hard soil - But no matter what your soil type

Next, gently squeeze the ball to lengthen it into a strip or 'ribbon' and see how long you can make it before it starts to break up. The more clay it contains, the longer the ribbon will get and the more plastic it will feel to the touch. Soil ribbons can range in length from about 5mm – 75mm, with sandy soils being shortest, loamy soils in the middle and clay soils the longest. While soils that contain a lot of clay or sand may need work to improve them, loamy soils are generally ideal. These contain a mixture of sand, silt, organic matter and clay, providing the right balance of nutrients, oxygen, water and drainage which are just what your lawn needs.

How do you improve hard soil - Cover crops

I always see things on how to work with sandy, silty, or clay soils, practically nothing on peat soils. I moved to an area this last Fall, that had a lot of glacier activity and is a meadow or grass land now. We would like to grow a garden, but we have black peat soil for about 14 feet down. I used a home soil test and found no nitrogen in the soil.

How do you improve hard soil - They also prevent nutrient loss and erosion during the non-growing season

There is some phosphorus and a small amount of potassium. What should we do to our soil to be able to grow a vegetable garden and fruit trees? Common soil amendments include compost, grass clippings, straw, shredded leaves, rotted manure and dried seaweed. Clay's potential as one of the best soil types for plant growth lies in its unique properties. Managed well, clay soil typically requires less irrigation and less fertilizer, and leads to healthier plants all around. Compaction is most likely to occur with heavier soils like clay and loam, but when heavy equipment is used, sandy soils can become compacted.

How do you improve hard soil - Leguminous cover crops

These are soil particles that are packed closely together. The problem may be compounded by events that have happened to the soil over the course of years. The pore spaces are reduced to the point that air and water cannot move freely and plant roots cannot grow easily into the surrounding soil. The soil could remain overly wet longer than is healthy for the plants growing there.

How do you improve hard soil - Regularly spreading organic matter over the soil surface is the best long-term solution to soil compaction

Cover crops help break up hard soils with their roots and by adding plant matter to the soil. Sow cover crops when the soil is bare, such as over winter. Before planting the area with desired plants in spring, dig up the cover crop and bury the plants in the soil. Cover crops include buckwheat , cereal rye and crimson clover , which are annual plants that naturally die down at the end of their growing seasons.

How do you improve hard soil - Organic matter includes compost

Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, and cereal rye is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7. Crimson clover is a winter annual in USDA zones 6 through 9 and a summer annual in zones 3 through 4. Sawdust or wood chips, leaf mould, peat moss, coffee grounds and fresh manure will all do the job, but expect to wait many weeks or months to see results.

How do you improve hard soil - Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost or a layer of wood chips or shredded leaf mulch 2 to 3 inches deep over bare soil in flower beds

Agricultural sulphur can be quicker acting but it may still take several weeks to do its thing and isn't as effective as organic material over time. Over the years of gardening and landscaping on this property, we continually had to battle the clay soils. However, major losses in soil organic matter content can take place when the soil is inverted or mixed annually by tillage. Extensive tillage stimulates microbial activity , and the consumption of mass quantities of organic matter ensues. After your clay soil becomes more friable and you have provided a deep root zone for your garden plants, you should consider reducing tillage.

How do you improve hard soil - Without any further help

Because the soil remains undisturbed, fertilizers and other soil amendments do not become homogenized in the tillage layer. Plant feeder roots, therefore, tend to proliferate in the top 2 inches of fertile topsoil. Compost is decomposed organic matter, and it is the best thing you use to improve the health of garden soil. Organic matter in soil serves as food for earthworms, insects, bacteria and fungi-they transform it to soil nutrients and humus.

How do you improve hard soil - If you

Through this decomposition process, materials are made available as foods to growing plants. In finely textured clay soils, organic material creates aggregates of the soil particles, improving drainage and making it easier to work. Earthworms are especially helpful in making and keeping soil porous and well draining, said Brewer. Bark, sawdust, manure, leaf mold, compost and peat moss are among the organic amendments commonly used to improve clay soil. Two or three inches of organic materials should be spread and rototilled, forked or dug into the top six or seven inches of your garden beds. Chop over-wintered cover crops directly into spring soils a few weeks before planting.

How do you improve hard soil - To help soften hard soil in a vegetable garden

During the growing season, sow a quick-growing cover crop, such as buckwheat, to fill the gap between spring and fall crops. When it's time to plant, pull the buckwheat cover and use it as a mulch for fall garden beds. Good soil provides just the right space between its particles to hold air that plants will use. Silty and heavy clay soils have small particles that are close together.

How do you improve hard soil - If the soil in your garden or vegetable patch is bare over winter

Sandy soils have the opposite problem; their particles are too big and spaced out. The excessive amount of air in sandy soil leads to rapid decomposition of organic matter. Organic soil is rich in humus, the end result of decaying materials such as leaves, grass clippings and compost. Good organic garden soil is loose and fluffy — filled with air that plant roots need — and it has plenty of minerals essential for vigorous plant growth. It is alive with living organisms — from earthworms to fungi and bacteria — that help maintain the quality of the soil. Proper pH is also an essential characteristic of healthy soil.

How do you improve hard soil - Along with adding compost

Mulching – Clay soils can tend to speed water runoff because water isn't absorbed as quickly into clay soils as it is other soils. Clay soils also tends to stick to the bottoms of your shoes, which can make a mess when you go indoors. By adding a layer of mulch to clay soil, you not only help keep the house clean, but can reduce the number of weeds that sprout. As mulch decomposes,it will enhance nutrition and water retention, which ultimately allows for better plant growth. Mulch will slow down water run-off allowing clay soil more time to absorb, and store, water. A layer of mulch is also cooler than exposed soil which helps to reduce temperatures overall in the garden.

How do you improve hard soil - I plant cover crops any time the beds in my garden would otherwise be unplanted or fallow

Surprisingly often, people imagine that the proper way to improve dense, clay soil is to add the opposite kind of mineral material—sand. After all, loamy soils, viewed as ideal garden soil, are a mixture of sand and clay. Unfortunately, when sand is added directly to clay, the result is something that more accurately resembles concrete.

How do you improve hard soil - Fallow periods provide little additional organic biomass while allowing the decomposition of organic matter in the soil to continue

The reason loamy soils are great for plants is that they have a large ratio of organic material in them as a foundation for the sand and clay. Without lots of organic material, clay plus sand equals an awful garden. Clay soils are best improved with the addition of compost and other organic materials only. To improve your soil, you'll need to add 6 to 8 inches of organic matter to the entire bed. Grass clippings (as long as they haven't been treated with chemicals), shredded leaves, rotted manure, and compost are all perfect choices.

How do you improve hard soil - They contribute to the improvements in soil structure that I described earlier

The organic matter needs to be mixed into the top 6 to 12 inches of soil. Digging it in and mixing it with a shovel is a great way to do this, as it moves a lot of earth without pulverizing the soil particles the way tilling can. However, if digging is just too hard on your back, using a tiller is a fine method.

How do you improve hard soil - And they can smother weeds and even suppress weed seed germination

Gypsum is easily applied to the soil surface with a regular lawn spreader. It's an ideal amendment for improving soil structure and relieving compaction in existing lawns and gardens. In beds earmarked for vegetables and annual flowers, amend the soil before each new crop is planted.

How do you improve hard soil - Many cover crops will also suppress pathogenic nematodes

Compost and well-rotted manure are preferred by most gardeners, since they dramatically improve the soil's structure, making it hospitable to the fine, tiny roots of seedlings. Unamended soil may dry into hard clods that small roots cannot penetrate, and plants may grow slowly, be stunted, or die as a result. Manure and compost break down rapidly–manure in a few weeks, compost in several months–so be sure to replenish these amendments before you plant each crop. Mixing sand into clay soils will create a concrete-like mess rather than improving your soil. Rather than trying to make soil more sandy, you want to focus on adding as much organic matter as possible, which is what will really improve soil structure.

How do you improve hard soil - At the opposite end of the scale from sandy soil are clay soils

This heavy, often dark, smooth soil is made up of very fine particles between which there are small air spaces. It is difficult to cultivate, being sticky when wet, yet hard and even cracking, when dry. In situations where drainage is poor, plants can rot because of waterlogging and a lack of air around the roots. Clay is also a cold soil taking time to warm up in spring, which can slow a plant's root growth. On the upside, clay is not only richer in nutrients than sand, but also retains nutrients and holds water well.

How do you improve hard soil

Chalk soils need plentiful additions of organic matter; on some types it is almost impossible to apply too much. On such a site you would do best to dig as deeply as possible each year - preferably double digging. This will enable you to get organic matter well down into the soil, so that, over a number of years, you gradually increase the depth of suitable growing soil. Also add organic matter to the topsoil - mix it well in if possible.

How do you improve hard soil - During the initial

Any of the kinds of organic matter suggested for clay soils can be used, but very acid materials are particularly suitable as they help to reduce alkalinity - if only very slightly. The main consideration in improving sandy soils is to incorporate as much organic matter as possible to supply humus. Most sandy soils are seriously lacking in humus and so have a very poor structure, the soil being unable to hold water and plant foods. The humus acts as a sponge and ensures adequate moisture during dry periods. Apply plenty of organic matter every year for it quickly disappears in this type of soil.

How do you improve hard soil - I spread compost over the surface of the beds an inch at a time and rototilled it in

Also apply a general-purpose fertilizer in spring, prior to sowing and planting. Following any of these treatments applying 6X in early spring gets your garden off to the perfect start for the season. 6X is a well-known and well-loved alternative to traditional farmyard manure which takes a lot of the effort out of spreading manure on the garden. One 15kg sack is equivalent to six or more sacks of traditional bagged farmyard manure and treats up to 184 sq metres . For starters, fall mulching gives you the upper hand on spring weeds.

How do you improve hard soil - I was careful not to work the clay when it was too wet

Pull weeds that do emerge in the spring early and quickly, when they are small and easy to manage. If not noxious–that is, not spreading vigorously by root or stem–I suggest laying them right back on the soil surface and covering them with from 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch. Covering garden beds right from the start gives you the jump on garden weeds, while feeding the soil with organic material at the same time. Adding organic matter is the key to loosening hard soils.

How do you improve hard soil - I tried to work the compost deep into the soil

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Many utility instruments exist within the Linux working system to look and generate a report from textual content facts or file. The consume...