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Subject: Re: Long-term effect of peat-soil raised bed
From: ecologicals <ecologicalsgardens@shaw.ca>
Organization: Shaw Residential Internet
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 02 23:07:30
Message-ID: <MOD$020314.7528@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$020311.27192@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



"Lisa J. Harris" wrote in message
news:MOD$020312.3503@rec.gardens.ecosystems...
>
> I'm no soil expert, but from what I've read and been told,
> unless you have good soil to start out with, it's important
> to mix the raised bed soil with what you have already.
> Otherwise you can create drainage problems and it can be
> hard for plants' roots to go beneath the raised bed soil
> because of the differences in drainage characteristics and
> soil compaction. (My basic soil is clay, so I have to be
> careful about that.)
>
> Lisa
>
> In article <MOD$020311.2685@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
> len brauer writes:
> >
> > the best medium for raised beds is composted material either kitchen
> > scraps or garden pruning etc.,. i use well composted mushroom compost
> > as my medium i do add other things like cow stable manure or any
> > manure that i can get hold of as well as composted garden scraps.
>
>
Interesting thread! If I may, a few random comments that may be useful, we
do hundreds of raised beds in various climates and soil conditions per year
and by now, we are beginning to get a clue about good/better/best.

Len is entirely correct in his statement above, the greater the compost
content, the healthier the soil within a raised bed. Soil is a living thing,
containing millions of microscopic life forms. Compost is a food source as
well as a regulator of pH, to the benefit of the plants that are grown.

Using peat moss as an additive is beneficial only if the tiny (dried) leaves
have been saturated with moisture, mixing in dry peatmoss will only cause
soil moisture to be absorbed by peat. While peat may act as a storage medium
for moisture, it is also acidic and too much will alter pH levels.

Clay is by no means a bad thing since clay absorbs and retains moisture. As
a component in the soil "mix", clay is good to have. Ideally, a sandy
loam/clay mixture balances fast and slow drainage characteristics. If a clay
soil does compact, as it will, more organic matter is needed.

Bagged soil is often the only affordable choice, the Big Box 98 cents stuff.
Often "sterilized" it is a carrier, bulk but not alive. If you add cold
steer manure (for Nitrogen) peatmoss (for moisture retention) and hopefully
Earth Worm Castings to a sandy loam/clay mixture, amend over the first year
as needed with lime or other elements as may be needed, the soil within a
raised bed will have a decent start. The key is mixing as many different
soil structures and as much organic matter (leafmold, grass clippings)
together.

Hmmm. That's a bit more than 2 cents worth... sorry!
John H. Immink
ecologicals1@shaw.ca
http://www.ecologicalsgardens.com/
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