dirt is settling

spanky22 Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:48 am

Hi there fellow SFG'ers,

I have a concern about my new SFG.
it's been a week now and I've noticed that the dirt has settled or compressed.
What was six inches deep looks to be about four inches now.

Should I leave it as is, or should I start adding more to the box?

----
Like I posted in my original, here is week one...

dirt is settling Week1

fiddleman Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:53 am

It is fine. I have grown in much less than that amount, and the plants thrived in it. If it bothers you, go ahead and fill it some more but only around the plants which root off the stem, for example tomatoes, otherwise you could encourage disease if you cover plants up too much.

Mark

spanky22 Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:35 pm

Thanks Fiddle. I'll leave it as is I guess. Smile

Pam Nix Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:22 pm

This post also had information on settling: https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7887-sfg-i-m-stucknot-a-good-start

BackyardBirdGardner Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:55 pm

spanky22 wrote:Thanks Fiddle. I'll leave it as is I guess.

Same thing here. But, I would plan to top off the beds with compost in the fall to bring the level back up to the rim of the boxes. Next beds I make will have an additional 20% added in for settling.

fiddleman Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:32 pm

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:
spanky22 wrote:Thanks Fiddle. I'll leave it as is I guess.

Same thing here. But, I would plan to top off the beds with compost in the fall to bring the level back up to the rim of the boxes. Next beds I make will have an additional 20% added in for settling.

I don't know if I would top off with all compost... It could really upset the 1/3, 1/3 , 1/3 proportions... I would add my trowel full ( as recommended but I would use a big trowel) of compost in each square, but then I would top off with more Mel's Mix. Drainage and moisture retention could become a problem with piling on more compost than that.

Mark

**camprn** Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:05 pm

fiddleman wrote:
BackyardBirdGardner wrote:
spanky22 wrote:Thanks Fiddle. I'll leave it as is I guess.

Same thing here. But, I would plan to top off the beds with compost in the fall to bring the level back up to the rim of the boxes. Next beds I make will have an additional 20% added in for settling.

I don't know if I would top off with all compost... It could really upset the 1/3, 1/3 , 1/3 proportions... I would add my trowel full ( as recommended but I would use a big trowel) of compost in each square, but then I would top off with more Mel's Mix. Drainage and moisture retention could become a problem with piling on more compost than that.

Mark

The Mel's mix is basic, the starting point and after this season will not be 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. I too top off all the beds with compost in the fall. The Foundation does say compost is the perfect growing medium. Very Happy

chocolatepop Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:38 pm

I top off with compost/peat mix. if I have the extra $$ for vermiculite, I'll add it in to top off, if not i just use compost/peat Smile

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