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Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Help!
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Posted by meg1964 7 (My Page) on Sun, May 3, 09 at 15:31
| I want to build a raised bed perennial garden and I am confused about what goes in there so far as soil (does this mean top soil?), manure, peat moss etc? In what proportions? Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Hel
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| My favourite for a perennial bed is "triple-mix" -- equal parts of topsoil, compost and peat-moss. This should be widely available at garden centres, landscaping supply stores, and even the big boxes -- but quality will differ. Here's to dirt under your nails! ;) |
RE: Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Hel
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| Like the soil you have in your garden, topsoil can vary greatly. There is no formula that says it will be this percentage of sand, that percent clay, and the balance silt with maybe 2 percent vegetative matter. For this reason you will have to depend on the landscape supply to sell you a quality product. Visit the sellers and buy from the firm that will talk to you and answer your questions about the source of his produce and its composition. Most people buying "topsoil" are doing so because they think something is wrong with the soil they already have. I have seen topsoil who's only advantage is it contains a weed so prolific it is "imported". Shop around, the price will be about the same where ever you buy. Al |
RE: Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Hel
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| why do you need to raise the bed... what is you normal soil ... it appears... that you have little or no idea what you want to do .. BUT THAT WONT STOP YOU.. lol ... dont get me wrong.. all the power to ya ... but it MIGHT appear that you are starting at a college level course.. with first grade basics ... i suggest.. you take a 10 by 10 foot bed.. in mother earth .. and grow some things... a nursery bed.. and start gaining some knowledge that way ... and then spend the summer defining what you want.. and need for this raised bed that can cost you a lot of money .... then tell us how big next years bed will be... native soil sunlight hours .. how you plan on raising it ... RRoad timbers... retaining wall ... berm .. etc ... drainage of native soil .. etc.. etc.. etc ... it only took me about 15 years to realize.. you plant this year.. in the bed you made last year .... its a lot less stressful than trying to build a proper bed in a week so you can play in it this year ... all that said... go the the topsoil guy ... have him walk the yard with you ... and get a good mix of topsoil.. it should be blackish .. with some native peat ... screened... and of a fine texture.. when wet... and you try to make a snowball.. it should hold together for a moment or two.. before releasing itself... and it should smell pleasant like a greenhouse ... have him dump a couple yards.. flatten it out.. and plant away... it can be as hard.. or as easy as you want to make it ... ken PS: how do you water on a berm??? it all runs off before it soaks in... |
RE: Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Hel
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| PS: how do you water on a berm??? it all runs off before it soaks in... Not if you use the right type of soil and build the berm properly! I've constructed countless berms over the years, both for clients and personally, and all take watering perfectly well. You need a freely draining, moisture retentive soil mix with an appropriate amount of organic matter and the correct slope to the berm. And a large enough area :-) As to why one chooses to use raised beds, there are many reasons......poor existing soil, improved drainage conditions, faster heating of soil in spring, convenience, etc. I like CPG's suggestion - a 3-way planting mix will generally get you the best combination of soil products in the proper proportions. And most bulk soil providers will have a product that fits this description. There is no definitive controls regarding anything labelled as "topsoil" - it could be construction fill, weedy, rocky, lacking in any OM or nutrient content, etc. Never purchase anything called "topsoil", bagged or in bulk, without examining it closely first. |
RE: Top soil, dirt, mulch, manure, peat moss...so confusing! Hel
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| the gal strikes again .. lol ... i know why.. and i know how .... my point .. if i had one.. was all the variables that need to be addressed ... what we dont know at this time.. unless i missed it.. is why they are enamored with a raised bed ... the first sentence of the first post ... all i ask is WHY ... is there a reason ... it isnt inherently necessary .. it is an extreme cost for aesthetics ... and growing perennials can be so simple .... if budget is of no consequence ... and multiplying your odds of failure dont matter.. start the hard way.. you will figure it out sooner or later ... but give us some more facts.. and maybe we can help you sort it all out ... in the mean time.. just go plant some in mother earth.. while you figure out this dream bed.. and then in fall.. you can move those plants to the new bed ... ken |
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