(no subject)
With the kindest of intentions, our neighbor, Aaron, brought us a load of 'topsoil' to use in the raised bed garden area we constructed to grow vegetables in.
He tipped the load last night and so I went out this afternoon to spread it out. Not so easy, when there are entire ledges of thick, packed clay and obvious subsoil strata. The smaller pieces are like coal clinkers they are so hard. There is some soil that is usable, but mainly I think when this stuff dries it'll be hardpan. I'm going to have to get really creative in order to make some of it at least usable. I'm going to try mixing in some of the oldest manure piles that are well-rotted enough for using in the garden, some gypsum to (hopefully) begin loosening the clay and a dozen or so bags of actual topsoil from Lowe's or someplace to spread over the top so we can plant this year.
Free is sometimes too good to be true, I guess, but then again, at least I have a sublayer of usable soil to take ups some space, which means a smaller investment in buying any soil.
Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I might do to work with this stuff?
He tipped the load last night and so I went out this afternoon to spread it out. Not so easy, when there are entire ledges of thick, packed clay and obvious subsoil strata. The smaller pieces are like coal clinkers they are so hard. There is some soil that is usable, but mainly I think when this stuff dries it'll be hardpan. I'm going to have to get really creative in order to make some of it at least usable. I'm going to try mixing in some of the oldest manure piles that are well-rotted enough for using in the garden, some gypsum to (hopefully) begin loosening the clay and a dozen or so bags of actual topsoil from Lowe's or someplace to spread over the top so we can plant this year.
Free is sometimes too good to be true, I guess, but then again, at least I have a sublayer of usable soil to take ups some space, which means a smaller investment in buying any soil.
Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I might do to work with this stuff?