soil inside an old tree

[manfred]

I cut a large hickory tree today, 30-34 inches. Inside was really black soil. I saved it( 4 ,5 gal. buckets) and am wondering just how rich this soil is, maybe it has a lot of acid?
And what is it made up of? Will it be good for house plants, or tomatos?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Tree Machine]

It's compost; decomposed wood, bug poop, decayed bug carcasses, an organic mix of all the things plants love. Rich, earthy humus soil. Your plants will love ya for it. As far as acidity, that must be tested to be certain, but it will be mildly acidic, rather than basic. 5.7 is about average for plants. I can't imaging your rich soil would be much outside the norm. That's how new soil is made. Decomposition of plant material.

Good save on that, manfred.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

On my mother's previous property, where I grew up, we always salvaged that stuff and added it to the vegetable garden.