Al's mix isn't necessary - it is just the mix he uses, and he uses it because it offers excellent aeration and longevity you won't find in a peat/compost-based soil. Al is selling aeration - not his soil. ;o) He would be the last one to guarantee better results, but he's not shy about saying that the chances of achieving better results, and growing plants that live up to their potential are greater in a durable, well-aerated soil than they would be in a heavy peaty/composty, water-retentive soil. He also warns that the price to be paid for growing in these types of soils comes in the form of more frequent watering and fertilizing, but your plants will likely appreciate your extra efforts. If you read a few posts scattered throughout the forum, you'll find plenty of people who embrace the idea of a well-aerated soil, and a few who would be just as pleased if they could come here & not have to listen to the frequent conversation about it. You'll have to decide what you think, but his hope is that you learn something from some of the things he shares, even if you decide the soils aren't suited to your style of growing or your needs. Turface is a great product & you'll see it discussed here frequently. It's interchangeable with perlite to the degree that they increase soil porosity to roughly the same degree on a size to size basis, but Turface far surpasses perlite in it's internal porosity, so it holds more water. It also has an excellent CEC, so holds nutrients better than Turface. The reasons are varied, but I generally use perlite exclusively in container soils I consider short term - 1 year probable, two years max. For soils I intend to press into two years service (or more) from the beginning, I use a combination of Turface and crushed granite to make up approximately 2/3 of the volume of the soil with the remainder usually pine or fir bark. The variations on the theme are many. Al

Sent you an email. thanks, BooBooBearBecky

If you have any YELLOW daylilies,plese advise me. I am looking for YELLOW daylilies that bloom at different times of the Spring, Summer, and Fall so that I can have some in bloom all summer. For further information go to my Exchange list below. If you respond, kindly put the word "GardenWebber" in the subject area to keep your e-mail out of my junk pile. THANK YOU. Here is a link that might be useful: Exchange List

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