What to do with old container soil?
freyja5
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
goren
14 years agodavid52 Zone 6
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Reusing Revitalizing Old Container Mix Soil
Comments (5)It's a good idea, as long as you are *truly* making good use of the water you keep dumping out. In my area, doing that kind of thing begets dirty looks from others who care about water usage during our droughts. When I rinse media to bare root using garden hose, I end up going around the yard to water it with the washout. This worked great, until I ended up getting a bad batch of trees that had gall and nematodes (these were expensive trees from a very reputable grower). I spread it everywhere, including a patch of my small orchard....See MoreWhat container soil do those big property maintenance firms use ?
Comments (1)If you're talking about big commercial growers, I think they usually make their own mixes from pine bark compost, peat and maybe perlite. I've read quite a number of studies of container growing in the nursery trade and noticed how often the mixes they use are bark based. My two favorite garden centers use mixes that are a lot like Al's 5-1-1. It's cheaper and holds up longer than standard peat based mixes....See MoreWhat to do with soil in containers after harvest?
Comments (5)Yes, protect from rain that compacts soil & washes the nutrients away. The rain also washes away the lime that neutralizes our acidic soil. Most vegetables need neutral soil, but don't add lime to your potato soil because it can cause scab. I've read It is best not use for potatoes again if you want to prevent disease. Buy new potting soil again for the bags or at least add 1 part new to the 2 parts used potting soil. Use it for annual baskets or another vegetable crop if desired. About raised beds: maybe you need more organic matter to keep it loose. The rain compacts it & the original compost in your mix is probably long used up. Now is the easiest time to mow over fallen leaves & add that right on top. If you can get a hold of barnyard manure you can put that 1st on top of soil then the shredded leaves & grass clippings. Used coffee grounds works wonders to prevent compacted soil, but does splash up on leaves of anything you still have growing. I try to cover the grounds with another mulch. Don't bother to turn it over, but you can if you want in spring....See MoreWhat do you do with the container soil
Comments (2)Sammy, What I add to old container soil varies and it depends on whether it has been in those containers for only 1 year for two or more. It also can vary a lot depending on what I put in my soil mix when I misxed it up to begin with. After the first year, I normally add some homemade compost, composted cow manure and then whatever else I think it might need...which might include some bone meal or blood meal, lava sand or green sand. Maybe a little dry molasses. Maybe some partially composted chopped/shredded leaves. In I am growing tomatoes or peppers in those containers, I might throw in a handful of lime. In about Jan., I add all that stuff to the 1-year-old soil-less mix in the containers that will be planted in March or April. When the container soil is two years old, I dump it out into a new raised bed (since I'm always building new beds) and add all those same amendments again. Then, I mix up a new soil-less mix for the containers. The two main issues with any soil-less mix in a container is that nutrients get used up and that organic matter decomposes and, to some extent, packs down more firmly which interferes with the permeability of the soil-less mix. So, what you want to do when you're adding to it after one year is to put some nutrients back into it and also some organic matter. Of course, the buildup of salts can be an issue in containers too, but it doesn't become an issue for my plants since I only use soil in a container for two years and I tend to water heavily which must leach out some of the salts. If, in the second year, you're dumping your container mix into grade level beds, you may not need to add much to it, depending on what you're growing in those areas. In raised beds, though, I try to always add the organic matter since the point of the raised beds is to improve drainage in the beds raised above our grade-level thick, red clay. Some people wait until spring and pour out all the soil in their containers onto a tarp or into a child's wading pool or a very large wheelbarrow, add the amendments, mix them in and then refill their containers. I don't do that. I just add my amendments in small quantities to the soil-less mix in the containers and mix it in well using a transplanting spade. If you've had a persistent issue with certain diseases that reside in soil, you might be better off putting the "used" soil into the compost pile for a year so composting can kill the pathogens in the soil. I don't usually have much of an issue with diseases in container plants, but that might be because most of our summers in Love County are very hot and dry with low humidity and many tomato-related diseases seem to thrive in moister soil with high humidity. Dawn...See Morerhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years agofreyja5
14 years agokentstar
14 years agocontainer_blueberry
14 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agoannpat
14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agotoxcrusadr
14 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
14 years agoFrankie_in_zone_7
14 years agoherbgardener
14 years agofreyja5
14 years agohummersteve
9 years agotoxcrusadr
9 years agomulchmama
9 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
9 years agoUser
9 years agodavid52 Zone 6
9 years agonancyjane_gardener
9 years agolisascenic Urban Gardener, Oakland CA
9 years agoHU-289233540
2 years agotoxcrusadr
2 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESThe Poop Scoop: Enrich Your Soil With Good Old Manure
Get over the ick factor already — this natural super-ingredient for soil has so many benefits, you'll wonder why you ever went chemical
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSContainer Gardening Basics: The Dirt on Soil
Learn the types of potting soil available and the best mixes to help your containers thrive
Full StoryGARDENING 101This Pro Tip Will Save You Money on Your Container Garden
For large planters, use empty milk cartons or plastic bottles to fill extra space before putting in potting soil
Full StorySALVAGEReinvent It: Make a Cheery Planter From an Old Eyesore
Don't ignore that yucky old grill growing rust in your yard — turn it into a lighthearted planter that's a joy to see
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSContainer Garden Basics: How and When to Water Potted Plants
Confused about soil moisture, the best time to water and what watering device to use? This guide can help
Full StoryMOST POPULARGarden Tour: A Mini Dino Park for a 3-Year-Old
A designer creates a sink-size fantasy space for his most important client yet
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARD10 Easy Edibles to Grow in Containers
These herbs, vegetables and fruits are just as happy in a pot as they are in the ground
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESRammed Earth: Old Meets New in Hybrid Material
An ancient technique lends itself to more sustainable contemporary home designs
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGOld School Green Design: Keep the Trees!
Trees in the landscape add a sense of place, connection to nature, shade — and great beauty
Full Story
annpat