Soil Additive

[NeedleCast]

Howdy all,

I've got a planter that I'm planning on using this spring and summer and I need some advice on dirt. The soil in the planter area now is fair at best. It's basically an area that was used by the previous home owner as a dumping spot for rocks, chunks of brick, gravel, sand (and apparently some roofing shingles). So the consistancy of the soil varies from okay to poor, where the poor areas are sometimes sandy, sometimes have a high clay-like content. I'm turning all the soil out of the planter area (mostly to remove the rocks, bricks, chunks of concrete, etc.) and then will put it all back in again. I'm hoping this will at least loosen the soil and mix together the areas with too much sand or clay content.

What would be the best supplement to add to the dirt I have now to bring up the quality?

[hippywife]

1. I would try just mixing in

some peat, compost, and course vermiculite as in the square foot gardening method rather than putting all the dirt back, and start a compost pile of your own (throw that old dirt in there) so that when it comes time to replenish it, you will be ready. :hi:

[NeedleCast]

5. Thanks

The dirt has to come out to get all the bricks and concrete bits and stuff out of there. I have started a compost pile, but with a house of one it takes a while to build it up. Hopefully next year I'll have enough to mix in!

[hippywife]

8. Sometimes you just have to buy

your compost. If there isn't a rural area around you with farms selling the stuff, you can go to a garden center and buy it first time out. Get at least three different kinds if you can. :hi:

[NeedleCast]

9. I think this is the plan I'm going with this time around

Hopefully next year I'll have enough of my own.

Thanks again for the advice.

[hippywife]

10. Try to figure the volume you need

and do 1/3 of each to fill it. Good luck! I really hope it works out for you. :hi:

[stellanoir]

2. This is the best stuff I've ever found.

http://www.coastofmaine.com/soils-quoddy.shtml

Might be hard to acquire in your area but perhaps ask around about any compost made from shellfish.

I've used about three different kinds over the years and don't plant anything without throwing a handful in the hole.

Top dressing it entirely would really be pricy and you'd only be feeding the weeds.

I do spread a handful around the stalks of the plants though, on top of the soil.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Add lots of compost.

Unless it's a very large planter, you may need to mix in some soilless mix or vermiculite to lighten up the soil.
Leave some rocks in a layer at the bottom of the planter. Rocks help with drainage.

[NeedleCast]

6. Hehe, I really don't know what big is

The entire planter is about 13 or 14 feet by 8 feet and raised off the surrounding area by about a foot. I will do that with the excess rock and brick, as it appears there will be plenty. Pain in the butt to dig out though.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. That's a really big planter.

The compost should suffice. Make sure that the texture of the soil is crumbly.

[NJCher]

4. chopped leaves

You can maybe do a lot of this for free if you have a town compost center like we in Jersey do. We can go get chopped leaves, compost, etc. and the only cost is time and labor.

Definitely, after you've sifted out the rocks, dig in a ton of chopped leaves. They will give your soil organic matter that loosens it up. Years ago, I did something like what you're doing and that was my big mistake. The water runs right through the soil, subsequently, I'm now in the process of amending it with organic matter.


Cher

[InkAddict]

11. We're trying this to even out a patio bed

http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/pdf/products/SoilPerfector.pdf

The bed has a lot of rocky construction-type dirt w/clay beneath
Here's the plan we're following:

1. Remove marble chips;
2. Till and remove larger rocks;
3. Add this stuff and dig again;
4. Add some sort of organic-based mix;
5. Plant and fertilize as required;
6. Mulch and grow.