Return to the Soil Forum | Post a Follow-Up

o
layering order?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings
Posted by calik8 sunset18 (My Page) on
Thu, Aug 4, 11 at 22:37

After my summer veggies are done, I will want to boost up my raised beds. I have leftover hay, newspaper, cardboard, and that free city mulch. Can I just lay it all in there and wait till spring?

Follow-Up Postings:

o
RE: layering order?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Yes. Newspaper and cardboard block any plants access to the sunlight all plants need to grow so any plants they cover will die and put the nutrients back into the soil. Those materials do need something over them to both hide them and hold them in place, so the hay and what ever the "free city mulch" might be can be placed over the paper.
Sunset zone 18 is, if I recall properly, USDA PHZ 9, so the soil bacteria will be more active much longer and you will need a lot more organic matter in your soil then I would.

o
RE: layering order?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

I would put the cardboard on the bottom unless you shred it first, so it doesn't block rainwater from getting into the piles.

For everthing else, mixing is actually a more effective compost method than layering. I sometimes use a big tarp and mix up a huge batch if I have a lot of materials at once. But nothing wrong with layering, and there's no magic sequence either.

o Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

    If you are a member, please log in.

    If you aren't yet a member, join now!

Return to the Soil Forum

Instructions

  • You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
  • Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
  • After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
  • It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
  • HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
  • No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
  • If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
  • If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.



 
Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.