Jersey Shore Magazine

BEACHCOMBER continued from page 35 Laura Webber Kerwin After testing the pH, add compost. "Spreading a couple of inches of compost helps add nutrients to the soil, and it also increases the water and nutrient-holding capacity of the soil," Costaris added. Depending on the soil's pH, homeowners may also till it with lime or sulfur as recommended by the soil test. It's also a good idea to get digging as soon as you can this fall. Invasive plants may be already taking over your Sandy-damaged property. "Invasive plants love dead vegetation and open spaces," Louise Wootton, Director of Sustainability, Georgian Court University, said. now if it looks dead, it is." Next, don't think that you need to order a dump truck full of topsoil, which can tally into the thousands of dollars "I don't feel it is necessary to remove topsoil and bring in new," Austin remarked. "Only if the storm had eroded soil should it have been necessary to replace it." Costaris advises homeowners to check the pH of their existing soil, as salt water flooding diminishes its acidity. "The pH of soil affects nutrient availability," Costaris stated. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County provides pH test kits for $3.00, available at their office: 1623 Whitesville Road, Toms River. Instructions are also available on the web to help you collect the soil in the proper fashion at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab. j e r s e y ForestWander s h o r e • F a l l / H o l i d a y 2 0 1 3 Native to the Jersey Shore: Cardinal Flower. Native to the Jersey Shore: Mountain Laurel. 36 Billed as "exotics" in local garden centers, invasives are plants that thrive aggressively outside their native range. These plants impact both the environment and the economy. According to Wootton, they cost New Jersey agriculture about $290 million per year by spreading from yards into woods and parks; in essence, choking trees and shrubs out of existence and altering the ecosystem. The top four offenders according to Wootton are Chinese/Japanese wisteria, Japanese barberry, Asian honeysuckle, and non-native bamboos. "About sixty-five percent of invasive plants in wild lands were originally introduced as garden plants," Wootton said. Austin recommends an alternative: supplementing your garden with Barnes, Dr. Thomas G Invasive plants, like honeysuckle, may be already taking over your Sandy-damaged property.

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