Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

What to do with old soil from pots

The_old_presbyteryThe_old_presbytery Posts: 20
in Problem solving
I have a lot of pots and containers sitting around in our small garden which now contain only old soil because the plants have either died or been planted out. What should I do with this soil? Can I reuse it? Put it on the borders? Add it to the compost? I'm worried that it might be lacking quality and hiding pests. In one container I found about 10 grubs in the old soil! 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I put old compost/soil on the borders.
    It won't rot down and generate heat, so no point in putting it in the compost bin.
    When you put it on the borders the birds will eat any grubs.
    Not a good idea to reuse it as there could be all sorts of bugs/bacteria/fungi that may cause problems.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I sometimes use old potting compost/soil to brush into the surface of the lawn as a top-dressing to help fill out any slight hollows and improve moisture retention (sandy soil here).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    JennyJ said:
    I sometimes use old potting compost/soil to brush into the surface of the lawn as a top-dressing to help fill out any slight hollows and improve moisture retention (sandy soil here).
    What a great idea! I'd never thought of that!!
    Thanks to my four-legged best friend my lawn (for want of a better description) has masses of holes in it, some several inches deep.
    Now I can start fixing them
    Thanks!! :smile:


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Odds on the grubs are vine weevil larvae - I would try and pick them off before adding to the soil.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Spread it out on a sheet of plastic or similar for a few days and let the birds eat the grubs before using it on the lawnmower borders

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





  • The_old_presbyteryThe_old_presbytery Posts: 20
    Thank you all for your helpful replies :-) 
Sign In or Register to comment.