I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but regardless, here's the situation.
The beds edging the house must have the level of the soil raised between 1-1/2 to 2'. I plan to do this in Sept. and Oct., since all of the plants will have to be lifted.
My question is: should I fill with straight compost, or mix compost and topsoil or sand?
The base is clay and the only organic matter is the mulch I've put on the beds over the last year.
Suggestions please.
When Nicola wrote she fills her excavated clay beds with compost, I believe she meant what we know as 'bedding-mix' such as you describe above Caro. Yes Nicola? Its one of those cases where 'compost' over there refers to either potting soil *or* bedding soil, depending on the context of the statement.
When I made my first raised beds, ready-mixed bedding soil was not available in bulk, so I had to amend delivered quantities of what they sold as 'topsoil' - that builders used around houses for lawn growing. Awful stuff. That is what inspired my first compost piles and then stable-begging to help get nutrients into the riverbottom 'topsoil'. You might want to have enriched bedding soil delivered in bulk Caro, to top up those beds.
A couple of years ago, there was a guy at the FW Home and Garden Show, who had a semi. He delivered compost and had some sort of a hose and could blow it out of the trailer wherever you wanted it. Gail, David, Maggie: anybody remember that guy? I believe I just trashed his card a few months ago. Nice timing. Seems like he was out of Stephenville, or somewhere like that. Wouldn't that be great? No muss; no fuss.
And yes, Nicola. Please clarify. Just compost; or compost mixed with topsoil, or sand, or something....
I wrote something wrong AGAIN. Third line up there should have ended with potting soil or *rotted humus stuff that we call compost*. THIS time I'll blame it on the too-early hour. ok?
I believe any of the large coposting out fits go the blowing thing....Silver Creek I think.....Good luck.....It will not cost to much??$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Caro, you can try Clear Fork in Aledo too. Just from personal experience, they give me better prices ESPECIALLY if you go on Sunday and speak to the dairyman who owns the place. He's a good ole' boy from around here and loves to flirt!
Actally, he's really a sweet guy and they have all kinds of mixes that they will deliver and apply. BUT if you want it free, there are compost and mulch piles free for the taking at the South Campus of TCJC. If you are willing to shovel it yourself. But it's great stuff. I use both the compost and mulch when I get the energy or extra volunteer hands. Wish one of us had a front end loader or Bobcat. We could all show up on the same day and contribute $$ to the owner of the loader...anyone out there??
Let's rent that sucker and borrow all the pickups we can beg. Count me in!!!!!!
When I make new beds and dig out the clay I replace it with home made compost only, there is no such thing as topsoil in my garden!
In an ideal situation to raise beds, remove the topsoil, dig over the subsoil and incorporate well rotted farmyard manure (should not be a problem for you Carolyn) if the subsoil is clay add coarse grit as well to help with the drainage - do you need drainage in Texas? Providing the topsoil is good enough mix it with compost and FYM, fill the beds and allow the soil to settle before undertaking any major planting.
Thanx Nicola. In the beds to be razed/raised (smile), it appears that there is clay beneath the mulch. When its wet, its very wet, and when its dry, its like concrete! By "course grit" are you referring to sand? I hadn't thought about letting the beds settle. I was just going to do a bit every day...dig up; fill; plant. But you are right. The beds will need to settle. So, now I need to find a place to heel the plants in for a while. Cripes! Ever notice how one thing leads to another??
I have only ever bought one lot of "topsoil", it sets like concrete as soon as it dries out and that's after adding sand and gravel to it. Nothing beats home produced compost especially if you can enrich it with chicken droppings, bet Carolyn could produce lots. Sorry, better re-phrase that, bet Carolyn's turkeys could produce lots. :-)
I tried to post this morning but lost connection, thought it was my colours messing up the system.
Thanx for the clarification, Terry
J
Guess bought topsoil is the same everywhere. Pure JUNK
Yep Terry - that's how I learned how to make adobe too, with that load of topsoil. I also added sand - and humus (straw is used in SW adobe building) to the yuck-top-soil, mixed it into the native clay, watered it, watched it dry and wha la - could have plastered the house with it for cheap air conditioning.
Builders spread it around freshly built houses for lawn base. Considering the lack of nutrients and humus in it, we can now see why most lawns start out and stay chemical-fertilizer dependant.