In article ,
"Paul O." wrote:

--
Paul O.
"brooklyn1" wrote in message
...

"Paul O." wrote in message
...
I live in an area where if not inhabitated would be desert. Our "soil" is
sand. I have a small spot I want to do some planting in and am going to
dig that area out. I want to fill it back up with something as close to
actual soil as I can get. What is best, possibly a mixture of soil
admendment and potting soil that can be bought at the home improvement
centers.

A "small spot" is meaningless... about how many cubic yards are you
talking... ten cu yds is not a lot. You will be better off buying topsoil
with compost added by the truckload (check your yellow pages for a local
supplier), then periodically add amendments you can buy by the bagful at
your local home improvement center. It'll be much too expensive to buy
the quantity of soil you're likely to need by the bagful. People almost
always under estimate the quantity of soil they need by at least twofold.


The spot is roughly 27 inches X 34 inches, and I figured I'd dig it out
about 12 inches deep. There is a place nearby that sells compost by the
scoop, however much that is, but I don't have a pickup to haul it home.
Something in bags would be easier. Thanks.

Depending on how much of a rush you are in, you could plant some green
fertilizer. I'm growing rye and clover but buckwheat and sweet peas
would work also (look at cover crops:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_crop ). The rye and buck wheat puts
out an incredible amount of organic material beneath the ground and the
clover, or legumes will fix nitrogen. Some nurseries have mixes called
"green manure". Once up, cut it or not, spread with amendments (manure,
bone meal, phosphate rock), and lay newspaper or cardboard over all of
it. Cover cardboard or newspaper with mulch (I prefer alfalfa). Hose
down the mulch and then poke in hole where you are going to plant.
Voila, no dig, lasagna gardening.
--

Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is
now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of
conception until death." - Rachel Carson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net