For my new raised beds, I am having a load of topsoil/compost (50/50
mix) delivered on Monday. Any suggestions on "conditioning" this soil
prior to planting? Should I wait some length of time or just dive
straight in?

Thanks,
Mark

If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad

Might want to add sand to it. Compost I have used straight has kept water
from soaking in. It just stood on top until it finally soaked in. It also
keeps roots wet on plants more than when mixed with sand. Maybe your soil
will eliminate the problem, but it didn't for me. Dwayne
"Marley1372" wrote in message
...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad

(Marley1372) wrote in message ...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


I guess I used the wrong term.

What I meant is, do I need to let it settle or get "washed" by a
couple rain showers first or something...or can I just plant /
transplant right away?

Mark

On 8 Mar 2003 11:03:36 -0800, (Mark)
wrote:

(Marley1372) wrote in message ...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


I guess I used the wrong term.

What I meant is, do I need to let it settle or get "washed" by a
couple rain showers first or something...or can I just plant /
transplant right away?


I'd just go ahead and plant or transplant right away ...and
enjoy the nice healthy plants you'll have from having such
good soil to grow them in.

Pat
--
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International: http://www.thehungersite.com/

On Fri, 7 Mar 2003 21:37:36 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

Might want to add sand to it. Compost I have used straight has kept water
from soaking in. It just stood on top until it finally soaked in. It also
keeps roots wet on plants more than when mixed with sand. Maybe your soil
will eliminate the problem, but it didn't for me. Dwayne

Surprised to read this, as compost is generally so "loose" that it
needs soil added to give plants a foothold. So water would soak in
even faster than in all-dirt.

Was it your home-made compost, or store compost, or?





"Marley1372" wrote in message
...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


--
Polar

It was some that the City had composted. They pick up grass clippings
during the summer on one day and garbage another. Then they compost all the
plant remains they pick up. You drive up with your pick up and they dump as
much in with a front end loader. There is no cost for it, so I figured it
was pretty good until I mixed it too heavy. The water finally soaked in,
but now it stays wet for a long time and I think I have lose some of my
plants from having wet feet.

Any ideas? Dwayne



"Polar" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Mar 2003 21:37:36 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

Might want to add sand to it. Compost I have used straight has kept
water
from soaking in. It just stood on top until it finally soaked in. It
also
keeps roots wet on plants more than when mixed with sand. Maybe your
soil
will eliminate the problem, but it didn't for me. Dwayne

Surprised to read this, as compost is generally so "loose" that it
needs soil added to give plants a foothold. So water would soak in
even faster than in all-dirt.

Was it your home-made compost, or store compost, or?





"Marley1372" wrote in message
...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


--
Polar

On Sun, 9 Mar 2003 07:33:18 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

It was some that the City had composted. They pick up grass clippings
during the summer on one day and garbage another. Then they compost all the
plant remains they pick up. You drive up with your pick up and they dump as
much in with a front end loader. There is no cost for it, so I figured it
was pretty good until I mixed it too heavy. The water finally soaked in,
but now it stays wet for a long time and I think I have lose some of my
plants from having wet feet.

Any ideas? Dwayne

If anyone had been using "weed and feed" on their lawn, you
probably lost them to the broad leaf weed killer.





"Polar" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 7 Mar 2003 21:37:36 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

Might want to add sand to it. Compost I have used straight has kept
water
from soaking in. It just stood on top until it finally soaked in. It
also
keeps roots wet on plants more than when mixed with sand. Maybe your
soil
will eliminate the problem, but it didn't for me. Dwayne

Surprised to read this, as compost is generally so "loose" that it
needs soil added to give plants a foothold. So water would soak in
even faster than in all-dirt.

Was it your home-made compost, or store compost, or?





"Marley1372" wrote in message
...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


--
Polar

I didnt lose them. The problem was that when I watered them after adding
the compost, the water took an awful long time to soak in, and then it keep
the roots wet for several weeks with out watering.

I was answering Polar's response to my earlier post. Thanks. Dwayne

"James Mayer" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 9 Mar 2003 07:33:18 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

It was some that the City had composted. They pick up grass clippings
during the summer on one day and garbage another. Then they compost all
the
plant remains they pick up. You drive up with your pick up and they dump
as
much in with a front end loader. There is no cost for it, so I figured
it
was pretty good until I mixed it too heavy. The water finally soaked in,
but now it stays wet for a long time and I think I have lose some of my
plants from having wet feet.

Any ideas? Dwayne

If anyone had been using "weed and feed" on their lawn, you
probably lost them to the broad leaf weed killer.





"Polar" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 7 Mar 2003 21:37:36 -0700, "Dwayne" wrote:

Might want to add sand to it. Compost I have used straight has kept
water
from soaking in. It just stood on top until it finally soaked in. It
also
keeps roots wet on plants more than when mixed with sand. Maybe your
soil
will eliminate the problem, but it didn't for me. Dwayne

Surprised to read this, as compost is generally so "loose" that it
needs soil added to give plants a foothold. So water would soak in
even faster than in all-dirt.

Was it your home-made compost, or store compost, or?





"Marley1372" wrote in message
...
If it has 50% compost, why would you need to condition it further?

Toad


--
Polar