In article ,
DirtBag wrote:
I started my first compost pile last fall, mostly leaves mulched with my
mower. I turned it several times, but given the limited time, it's not
yet compost - mostly just leaves.
Anyway, I'm planning to use raised beds this season, and I was hoping to
use this "compost" in the raised beds. I was planning to rototill this
compost into the first several inches of soil, then install the raised
beds, add some more of this compost, and finish off with some local
topsoil from the local nursury.
Sounds OK. What is the base soil that you will be placing the raised
beds on? If not clay, you probably don't need to turn the ground. The
decomposers ( ameba, fungi, bacteria) have already enter the compost, so
blending the compost into the soil is no problem. Compost shouldn't be
more than 10%- 15% by volume of you soil. Since you will need to
fertilize the bed anyway, add chicken manure at the rate of 18 lbs/100
sq. ft., which will also address the nitrogen demands of the brown
organic material that you add, and add the microbes that the soil may be
deficient in. You could always use the bottom portion of you compost
pile to make a compost tea to increase the population of soil microbes.
The other possibility would be to spray a dilute mixture of molasses or
sugar on the bed, once it is preped, which will set off a population
explosion among the mirobes.
Am I missing something? Will this leaf-compost be problematic? Should I
swap the topsoil planned for the raised beds for something else.
There is little true topsoil for sale. There is always the worry that
the soil may be contaminated with herbicides or heavy metals. If you
have soil that you can use, top or not, just blend it with organic
material. If your soil is mostly clay, you may want to blend in some
sand as well. Ideal soil composition should be 30%-40% sand, 30%-40%
silt, and 20%-30% clay. As I wrote, 10%- 15%, by volume, of you soil
(the above) should be organic material.
Any guidance for a newby would be greatly appreciated.
DB
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