Subject: Long-term effect of peat-soil raised bed From: dieffenbachia@hotmail.co.il (Gabriel) Organization: http://groups.google.com/ Date: Mon, 11 Mar 02 14:01:06 Message-ID: <MOD$020311.27192@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
I was suggested once, that I can build a raised bed and fill it with
potting soil (peat soil) without mixing it with the soil. It is
expensive for a large area, but my questions are related to the
effects this can have on the soil:
1) From my own experience with USED peat soil, it is hard to grow
anything in it. I was successful in garden soil amendments, but I
never was successful with potting soil. I don't know what will happen
if I plant seasonal plantations to replace plants from earlier
seasons.
2) I also noticed that leaves used as mulch hardly decompose, even if
the potting soil is wetter than the garden.
3) It has tendency to form a white cusp of salts when irrigated with
tap water. How bad can this be, and does it mean I have to replace THE
WHOLE BED each time it happens?
4) Dried-out peat soil can make water run through it without absorbing
it. Planters can be treated by placing them in a plate full of water.
I can't do that with the raised bed :-)
Is that recommended? The climate where I live is a mediterranean
climate, never reaches zero in the winter, around 30c in summer
daytime and does not rain from April to October. I'm not worrying much
about the soil organisms. I know they can adjust. I have found many,
even earthworms, in a peat container that was placed in the garden
throughout the winter.