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Garden soil in the bottom of container

LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
edited March 2022 in Plants
Hi all

I had planned to fill this container with a mix of topsoil, mpc and leaf mould but in order to save a few pennies, and because I'm digging out another part of the garden, can I put that garden soil into the bottom of the container. The soil is mostly from the surface and is quite weedy but if it's at the bottom, will that matter?

Thanks all

Edit: Forgot the pictures!





I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 

Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    No it won’t matter but try get the weeds out first if you can. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Cannot see the pot, just wondered what you would like to grow in it please.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I would, but my soil is sandy and free-draining (in fact I'd mix it with the compost). Not sure if I would if it were heavy sticky clay.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    JennyJ said:
    I would, but my soil is sandy and free-draining (in fact I'd mix it with the compost). Not sure if I would if it were heavy sticky clay.
    I agree … it depends on the soil. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Thank you ask for the swift responses!

    It is indeed a sticky clay! I wasn't planning on mixing it in, just chucking a few inches at the bottom to bulk it up a bit
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Not sure if a photo is much help!


    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It might be OK if your plants won't mind clay (sticky when wet, concrete-like if it dries out). Or for something shallow-rooted like small bedding plants that won't get down to the clay layer.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @JennyJ it'll be a mix of shade loving plants, so ferns, heuchera, hostas and some bulbs
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    That doesn't look too bad - I was envisaging the kind of shiny sticky clay that you could make pots from.
    If that was mine, I think I would put the soil in but not as a separate layer. I would crumble it up more and mix it with some of the leafmould and MPC to lighten it, then put topsoil/MPC/leafmould on top. You don't want the garden soil near the top because where there a weeds there are most likely seeds which will germinate if they're near the surface.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    @JennyJ thank you!!
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
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