Does this topsoil sound ok?
lb191
Posts: 80
Hi,
I know I'm a bit (lot) behind but I've just filled my first raised bed with soil.
i bought some compost that I put in the bottom and then some 50/50 mix and then just topsoil on the top.
The topsoil looked and felt nice enough.
When I worked with it it made my hands glittery which I read might be mica, the relevance of I have no idea.
Then when I watered the bed I expected the water to drain freely through the topsoil but it didn't. It just sat on the top and when I felt the topsoil it was just much like a sandpit. There was no firmness, it was just slushy.
I'm a complete novice who doesn't have time to study so I tend to just get a general idea and try it out henever I might get chance...
Can anyone tell me if the topsoil is behaving as expected? Is it ok or do I need to do something to it? Compact it more? Mix through thecompost more?
Thanks
Posts
If the soil is fine and very dry and dusty any water put on does just runs off rather than sinks in. This is the major problem in the drought ridden famine areas of the world. Dusty soil gets easily eroded by heavy rain or blows away.
Us lucky Brits can buy top soil and it can be of any consistency you like depending on your budget.
I bought about 4x MSq bags to fill raised beds and then aquired a lot more from a neighbour digging out a drive. Where I live it is a very fine sandy soil that gets dusty. The only way to improve it is to dig in some good soil improver, as in composted garden waste. These very fine soil particles seem to combine with the fibrous compost and give a much better growing medium.
In the beds which I have added these bags of compost It has made a huge difference between compacted dusty soil and a good open texture on the beds I have treated. Dig it in a bit to get it started or just put it on top of damp soil and let the worms do it.
I have been using B & Q peat free multipurpose in 125lt bags for this. £ 0.06p per litre. They really have helped my soil. (Other brands are available. )
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
Ok great, thanks a lot for the info.