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Overheard a park ranger say gnomes are a sign of healthy soil
I was at Yellowstone last weekend and heard this ranger talking to a group about weird stuff people leave in the woods. He mentioned garden gnomes specifically and said that whenever he finds one in a remote spot, the soil nearby is usually really good. Something about people only placing them where the ground is soft enough to push them in. That got me thinking because my buddy Steve keeps his gnome on concrete. I always thought it was just about hiding them in funny places but now I wonder if the dirt quality matters. Do you guys pick spots based on the ground or just go for the best laugh? Has anyone else noticed a connection between gnome placement and the soil around it?
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danielwhite1mo ago
Yeah that park ranger is onto something. I've been putting gnomes in my garden for years and you definitely need soft ground to get them stable. If you try to shove one into hard packed clay it will just tip over or crack the base. I always dig a little hole first, makes a huge difference.
The concrete thing is actually fine for display but you're missing out on the real soil benefit. Gnomes in good dirt tend to stay upright through storms and stuff. Plus they look more natural half buried in leaves and moss. I check my spots after heavy rain and the ones in soft soil never move.
Your buddy Steve might want to try a small patch of dirt instead of concrete. Even a flower bed works better. The gnome will look like it belongs instead of just sitting there on flat stone. I switched my whole setup after noticing the difference.
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