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Posted: May/13/2009 5:58 AM PST
Hello, I have a raised garden and I purchased soil from a company in Maryland that specializes in top soil. The soil is called LeafGro. For the last 3-4 weeks, it had been raining regularly but my soil looks like I live in the desert. One picture shows my garden bed, where you can see how dry the soil looks. I had to use a hand-held garden tool with a point on the end to loosen the soil. The other picture shows what the soil looks like at about 3 inches deep. It is barely moist. I don't understand why my soil looks like this. Maryland has been in the "rainy season" for the past month. The temps have in the upper 60s to lower 80s with low humidity (so far!) What can I do to keep this soil from getting so dry? It's not even hot yet and my soil looks terrible. Attachments:   |
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Posted: May/13/2009 9:32 AM PST
It looks to me like one of the main ingredients was power Vermiculite not the bead type pellets, ? and it's floating to the top, look at the bag and try to see what it is made up from, the picture looks like it has crusty surface of white or light gray stuff, I would cover the bed with some composted cow manure, take my garden fork and poke down through the manure in to the existing bed mix, then add a 1-2" layer of hay(i love hay), this way it will keep your plants growing and may help. I think that mix looks like a container pot mix the ones that have a auto water/feeding setup for hanging flower plants that end up at garden centers. I'm just thinking here GT. |
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Posted: May/14/2009 6:17 AM PST
I see what you are talking about GT but there are no pellets/beads in the soil. I'm sorry that I don't have better pics. We have a local company that you can purchase soil in bulk. It is cheaper than buying soil by the bag when you need a lot of it. When I purchased the soil, it was black. It looked like regular soil. It is called LeafGro, which is supposed to be a soil mixture of compost and topsoil to be used for veggies. When I laid the soil in my yard, I mixed in plant food only. This is the way the soil starting looking a few days after planting my cool weather veggies. I purchased the soil in mid March and planted some of my veggies late March. |
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Posted: May/15/2009 9:16 AM PST
Take a sample back to the Bulk Soil Sales Location and see if they can answer the "What's going on here ? . also while your at it, look at the bin or pile next to the "Mystery Soil" . a kinda see what's piled next to it ? . It looks like some old drywall sweepings ? Lost Here but trying to Help, Good Luck, GT |
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Posted: May/27/2009 8:17 AM PST
I'd water well then mulch heavily with compost. You get two benefits: water retention and extra nutrients for your soil. Manure might burn your plants off if you get it too close, but good compost won't do that. |
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