Top Soil

Posts

• StephenSouthwest Posts: 635

  October 2023

  ...thinking aloud here..
  

  Replacing topsoil with topsoil is always problematic, because you're disrupting the soil structure, and wasting resources.

  (You might need to do it if, for example, the soil is contaminated with chemicals.)

  Thinking about farming - you're always looking at building soil structure, and farmers never remove topsoil (unless it's contaminated).
  

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  October 2023

  It's what most people do when improving the soil condition @StephenSouthwest - ie adding more organic matter. Clay is by far the best growing medium, but it has it's difficulties.
  There are no shortcuts if the soil is heavy clay, other than raised beds, but they need the right mix to begin with  [mostly soil] because they're essentially just large pots, and the mix needs to suit the planting. No need to remove any existing soil though, just adding a basic soil mix, and improving it over time by using those additions regularly     

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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