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Mon, Mar 28, 11 at 18:15
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Guys,
I live in Kokomo, IN & I want to purchase 100 sq ft (100) 40# of the best composed soil available for my raised bed garden project. I checked the big box stores & top soil is going for $1.50 / bag. Horse manure & peat moss cost a $1.75 / bag. I had a dump truck load of "good black" top soil deliver last fall & had to send it back because it was 80% clay. I also called the country recycling for "free compost" & was told it goes 5 min after it is delivered. It was recommended for flower but not for eatables because it has the sewer treatment compost & other unwanted chemicals. Here are my questions: 1. What mixture of the above soil, manure & peat moss is the best for the garden? 2. Can the composed soil be delivered to my home via truck & where to I purchased it? Thanks!
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| In my region, the folks who sell bulk soil (and perhaps stones) also have various amendments. Check the Yellow Pages. |
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| Before purchasing anything labeled "topsoil" think about what it is you expect it to be. Since you already returned something being sold as "topsoil" since it was 80 percent clay would you expect other sources of "topsoil" to supply anything much different? A good garden soil will have about 92 percent mineral and about 8 percent organic matter which can be compost, leaf mold, shredded leaves, etc. I would not rely on the sellers assurances that what the seller is selling is what I want and have asked for about a 1 cup sample to test myself using this simple test. Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top |
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| Yes, we have the same clay here in Ohio. I have yet to find a good local source of bulk compost. I have bought bulk "soil compost mix", expensive and I swear it was nothing but clay. Most recently I bought cheap topsoil and amended it myself with my own compost (unfinished), straw, grass clippings, mixed leaves and grass clippings, UCGs, whatever I had. It turned out great. It was basically a lasagna bed but I added a few inches of soil first. If you're not currently making your own compost, you might want to consider starting for future use. Karen |
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| Do you have any stables or farms near by? They often have great compost & manure and sometimes will deliver it for a small fee. If you have the yard space get more than you need and let it age. In the fall it is ok to put somewhat fresh manure on the beds, springtime you would only want well aged manure, a couple of years old. |
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| I made a new discovery this spring as I got into "I need tons of compost" mode. I live in suburban New York, an area that has quite a lot of large estates and small areas of undeveloped land. I found some spots outside people's gardens where they've been (probably illegally) dumping their grass and leaves for years, and also a large estate that had an out-of-the-way dumping spot for the same. I pushed off a matted pile of last years' grass and leaves and found black gold underneath. Not guaranteed weed seed free, but looks great and lots of it. I filled up many 5 gallon buckets over a few weeks. You might want to check around your area, to see if there's any such place. I even took my pitchfork and gave the gigantic pile a good turn to better mix things up for future return visits. |
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- Posted by minnieoaka 7b (My Page) on Mon, Apr 4, 11 at 9:46
| Hi Andy, I live in Ga. and garden in raised beds. I don't purchase "topsoil" from big companies anymore after getting a funny smelling mix that has continually tested out VERY alkaline (Georgia has pretty consistent acidic soils and alkalinity is seldom a problem). However, I have had some good luck with having good old Georgia red clay delivered and then amending it heavily with my own compost. In fact, my raised bed with this mix produce great veggies and is about a 6.4 pH which is near perfect for my veggies. Good luck. |
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