Re: Clay/Raised beds
From: "GeneBush" <genebush@otherside.com>
Hello Janet,
I am a nursery owner and have been there and done that. Personally, I
would not advise constructing your raised beds of only potting medium.
Several reasons. Number one being potting medium is just that... formulated
specifically for pots and then according to pot size used here in the
nursery. It does not behave the same in a large raised bed as it does in a
gallon pot. In the bed where I used only perennial mix left over it has been
nothing but problems and will have to be redone eventually. Dries out too
quick and breaks down too quickly needing additional fill each year or so.
The new bed I just constructed contains some potting medium simply
because I have it available to work with. (All plants shipped must have most
of the medium removed) It is now mixed with compost and leaves. Also the
cost would be pretty steep using only potting medium. A truckload of
screened and mixed compost would be far cheaper to use and function better
in the raised bed. Around here we can get a dump truck load of screened
compost and soil mix delivered for around $260.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Janet Yang <jyang1@home.com>
Subject: [iris-talk] Clay/Raised beds
snip.......
> My next-door neighbor recently bought a plant nursery
> and is always hinting that he would like my business.
> (Naturally; I spend a lot of money replacing drowned
> plants!) I told him that I was planning to build raised beds
> and asked if he sold top soil in bulk. He said, "You should
> use Pro-Mix. That's what I use," but then, he doesn't carry
> top soil so he has to recommend something he does sell.
> Is he correct? Plants are a new field for him (he used
> to own a car dealership). When would you use top soil, and
> when would you use potting mix? I know that potting mix (a)
> is usually soilless, (b) is lighter than soil in both weight
> and texture, (c) has wetting agents to retain moisture, and
> (d) is more expensive than top soil. Because of its lighter
> weight and wetting agents, I would use potting mix in window
> boxes, containers that need to be movable, and, well, pots
> in general. But what about in raised beds?
>
> Janet
>
> *It took me YEARS to find Iris pallida 'Argentea Variegata',
> and this spring it succumbed to bacterial soft rot. :(
>
>
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