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sharp sand water retention
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02-11-2007, 10:55 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Malcolm Race
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Mar 2007
Posts: 11
sharp sand water retention
Stuart Noble wrote:
Malcolm Race wrote:
wrote:
I wonder if anyone has an opinion about the water retention of sand
when mixed with the general purpose compost you buy in a garden
centre. My experience is that, added at 25%, the mix actually retains
more water than the compost alone. Maybe this is partly due to the
sand breaking down the compost into fine and evenly distributed
particles or something.
Any thoughts welcome
For years now I have made my own compost based on a 3:1 peat:sharp
sand mix with latterly Chempak potting base fertiliser mix. Seedlings
do very well and I use it for tubs and pots as well - and there is no
problem with ants although the infest the garden.
Malcolm
Do you mean real peat? I don't know what the cheap compost you buy in
garden centres is made from but I doubt if it contains much in the way
of nutrients. I'll look into the fertiliser question. At the moment I
just water everything with a very dilute Phostrogen.
Yes, I know it isn't particularly PC but the amount I get through in a
year is small
Malcolm
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