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maintaining Mel's Mix
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maintaining Mel's Mix
quick question - keep reading about when I remove plants for next planting to bring some compost with me to fill in the hole. At some point, doesn't this change the ratio of Vermiculite/peat moss or am I overthinking?
Best.. Steve
Best.. Steve
stevenfstein- Posts : 46
Join date : 2020-11-09
Location : Zone 6a
Re: maintaining Mel's Mix
stevenfstein wrote:quick question - keep reading about when I remove plants for next planting to bring some compost with me to fill in the hole.
Question 1:
At some point, doesn't this change the ratio of Vermiculite/peat moss
Yes, it slowly does that. After a number of years, maybe 5, 6, 7 or 8 years, it becomes necessary to refresh the vermiculite and/or peat moss.
Question 2:
or am I overthinking?
Yes. No need to fret or worry over it. You will notice when the soil mix becomes less friable or less able to retain moisture. When that happens you need to start working in some vermiculite and/or peat moss.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: maintaining Mel's Mix
Much appreciated. This year was not that great what with a resident groundhog, squirrels, chipmunks and deer. One section has to be redone where the groundhog took up residence, dug down and brought up lots of rocks and clay type soil.
Best... Steve
Best... Steve
stevenfstein- Posts : 46
Join date : 2020-11-09
Location : Zone 6a
Re: maintaining Mel's Mix
Each season, add enough compost to bring the level back up to where it started. Then mix it in. That will help keep the blend the same throughout the bed. Over a few years, the coarse vermiculite will break down and the peat moss will slowly start to decompose. At that time, you can add like 1" of coarse vermiculite and the next year 1/2-1" of fluffed peat moss, along with some new compost. I think it was around year 6 or 7 that I noticed the mix was heavier and I started adding one ingredient one year and the other ingredient the next year.stevenfstein wrote:quick question - keep reading about when I remove plants for next planting to bring some compost with me to fill in the hole. At some point, doesn't this change the ratio of Vermiculite/peat moss or am I overthinking?
Best.. Steve
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