You can also use the likes of bark, coarse sand, sawdust, perlite, or vermiculite to make a successful soil mixture. They can all be combined with existing garden soil to provide a rich and fertile mix that has a great structure and drains well. The number one alternative for mulching your garden is homemade compost, but there are other types of mulch to consider, too, such as well-rotted manure, leaf mold, or spent mushroom compost. If there is a risk of potential disease or pests in the soil and it causes it to be discarded, then there are other options to create a fertile soil mix suitable for adding to beds, borders, or raised beds. (Image credit: Stephanie Frey Photo / Alamy Stock Photo) Alternatives to reusing potting soil You can buy loam soil to use in your backyard, but always ensure to source it from reputable suppliers to ensure it is high in quality. Mixing old compost with other materials does help, but it might be worth adding some loam-based material for longer-term benefits.’ A loam soil is constructed of soil, sand, and clay, and it is the ideal composition of soil for any gardener. John adds: ‘Peat and peat-alternative composts, being organic matter, also tend to break down over time and lose their structure. ![]() Other amendments can also be used depending on your soil's pH. ![]() As well as this, many gardeners combine old potting soil with new compost at a 50/50 mix in order to get the right level of nutrients and improve overall soil health. John Negus, a gardening expert, explains how organic matter such as well-rotted garden compost and manure will ‘give the mix a boost’ or you can add a balanced slow-release chemical fertilizer, such as the Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food available at Amazon (opens in new tab). Old potting compost will have had its nutrients used up, therefore it is imperative to improve its fertility when reusing it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |