(Untitled)

[gairid]

With the kindest of intentions, our neighbor, Aaron, brought us a load of 'topsoil' to use in the raised bed garden area we constructed to grow vegetables in

Comments

[jrstraus]

Sand sand and more sand?

[urban_homestead]

If you can amend it, it will be fine. It sounds like you have lots of manure, so that's awesome, and now you'll want to do something that can help regulate drainage - peat moss ideally, or vermiculite if you are anti-peat. If possible you might want to layer the soil with amendments rather than trying to mix them in since it sounds very chunky. But so long as you get some organic matter and earthworms in, the worms will take care of it for you. I do agree that it's likely to get hard when it dries, so if you can mulch it with anything - even the manure - to keep it moist until it's blended with other stuff, so much the better.

[gairid]

Thanks for the ideas! I think layering will work better, now that you say it. We are lucky to have the never-ending manure factiry in the form of our two horses, so I can keep working that in, too. This year I'll cheat a little with some bagged soil, though, because I want the tomatoes and peppers!

[urban_homestead]

Sometimes I spread wet newspapers on sub-par soil and then pour bagged soil on top, and the newspapers disintegrate and disappear by the end of the gardening season. It works great, and it gives the soil underneath a chance to acquire worm tunnels and soak up organic matter while staying moist and dark. Good luck! I have dealt with some pretty nasty soil on my property so I sympathise.

[gairid]

I've done that to smother turf & start a new bed