maintaining Mel's Mix

stevenfstein 11/26/2022, 7:15 am

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

OhioGardener 11/26/2022, 7:39 am

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.

stevenfstein 11/26/2022, 8:01 am

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

**sanderson** 11/27/2022, 2:30 am

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

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.

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maintaining Mel's Mix

maintaining Mel's Mix

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