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Topsoil help needed

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  • LorrainePLorraineP Posts: 218

    Thanks, Dove.....  image

     

  • lee 3lee 3 Posts: 3

    Many thanks all.

    i have found on a website compost direct 3 things to mix in but which one will prove optimum results? The

     

    soil conditioner

    black gold

    farmyard manure

     

    Any thoughts?

     

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    Hi lee

    Soil conditioner is just another name for garden compost, manure or spent mushroom compost, all of which will improve the condition/structure/fertility of your soil.

    Garden centres sell bags of compost labelled 'soil conditioner' to differentiate between it and the various types of potting compost. 

    Black Gold is just a brand of compost with soil added.

    Farmyard manure is what it says it is - if you're buying it in bags from the garden centre it should be well rotted when you get it and it can be dug straight into your soil - it's my first choice to improve my soil!!!

    You can also buy 'spent mushroom compost' (look online) and this will also improve the condition of your soil - however it will contain lime so if you garden on acid soil and wish to grow acid loving plants it's not a good idea to use it.


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





  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    What about spent compost from growbags?  Someone dumped a load of this near my allotment in the winter.  I've already put 4 barrowfuls on my potato plot and one on (well, under) the onions....am I doing the right thing?  Looks like remains of tomato or similar plants (roots) in there

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    That'll be fine as a soil conditioner Steve - stir it about, dig it in image


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





  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Good - that's wot I fort.  And what I did.  Spread in on top (about 3" deep) then made the trenches for spuds, added compost & planted.  Looking forward to lots of yummy Charlotte (reminds me of of a girl I once knew....)

    . Happy days.  Now I just need to shift the rest of it - will raise the not-very-raised beds at last!  About another 30 barrowfuls at a guess!  And me with a bad back image

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