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Gus starts with ... Just wondering what you guys suggest for a good healthy mix for a raised garden bed. I have started off with layers of Lucerne, cow poo, and compost. I have had great results, but constantly have to refill the boxes as the mix just evaporates. I was considering mixing in a little sand and clay just to add a little structure but don't want to undo what has been working for me. Anyone else had similair experiences? | About the Author 18th September 2011 11:23am #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 19th September 2011 8:07am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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ringelstrumpf says... I use woody material too. I cut it down a bit and then use grass and I shovel the dirt on the top. You will get enough branches from your neighbours. You should use different kind of stuff that means calling a lawn mowing company to dump their clippings in your yard is a good idea. | About the Author ringelstrumpf Mountains 19th September 2011 6:03pm #UserID: 5542 Posts: 160 View All ringelstrumpf's Edible Fruit Trees |
Gippshome says... Hi Gus, This is a no-dig method of gardening, and since most of the straw is really just air you will find that it reduces in size substantially and quite quickly. If you want to keep total control over what is in the soil, then you should keep to just this combination. Adding other soil can introduce weeds and have an impact on drainage among other things. If you're not particularly fussed then adding soil won't destroy the bed. You'd probably still be better off doing that as opposed to mixing a little compost into raw dirt. Just remember either way you'll need to keep adding nutrients regardless. Take Ringelstrumpf's advice of grabbing free composting material from neighbours to bulk it up a bit! | About the Author Gippshome Gippsland, Victoria 19th September 2011 8:46pm #UserID: 5809 Posts: 2 View All Gippshome's Edible Fruit Trees |
Gus says... That is all good advice guys, I hadn't really considered that most of the straw is just air but that makes a lot of sense. I was a little worried at the rate it was disappearing, but I guess it is just squeezing out the air pockets. I haven't yet added any soil but get a fair few weeds growing in there anyway. Think I will give the soil a miss and carry on with what I am doing until I have a bubbless bed Thanks again. | About the Author 19th September 2011 11:01pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author amanda19 Geraldton. Mide West WA. 20th September 2011 9:22am #UserID: 2309 Posts: 4607 View All amanda19's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author ringelstrumpf Mountains 20th September 2011 6:52pm #UserID: 5542 Posts: 160 View All ringelstrumpf's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author 21st September 2011 3:15pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Brad says... if you don't have a large composting setup already (or can't set one up quick), I recomment you look at http://www.greenlifesoil.com.au/soils.htm your approach is effectively composting your growing medium which is why it disappears. whatever soil you use, always mulch and compost regularly to maintain / improve it. theres a few community gardens around that might be useful for you to compare? http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Directoy-of-WA-Community-Gardens/Directory-of-WA-Community-Gardens.pdf | About the Author Brad2 G Hill,Perth 21st September 2011 4:19pm #UserID: 2323 Posts: 762 View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Karrinyup 22nd September 2011 10:15am #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Julie Roleystone WA 22nd September 2011 6:59pm #UserID: 154 Posts: 1842 View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 27th September 2011 8:14pm | |
| About the Author Brad2 G Hill,Perth 23rd September 2011 12:45am #UserID: 2323 Posts: 762 View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees |
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MiLK_MaN says... I started some no dig garden beds last year, and the contents halved by winter time. I have no problems adding more content, some worm castings, pelleted chicken manure, compost from my compost tumbler and then top up with bags of soil. Essentially the worms are converting the organic matter into castings for you beneath the soil. If you start adding contents that the worms can't devour, then you might not get the same good results that you talked about from last year. I'd just try and find some cheap materials that you can compost. I found a lady in melbourne that was giving away free rabbit manure with wood shavings. Most of this ended up in my worm farms. | About the Author MiLK_MaN South Morang, VIC 23rd September 2011 12:21pm #UserID: 4085 Posts: 40 View All MiLK_MaN's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd September 2011 8:37pm | |
| About the Author Melbourne 23rd September 2011 2:12pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author snottiegobble Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle) 23rd September 2011 7:28pm #UserID: 3468 Posts: 1458 View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees |
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MiLK_MaN says... I compost the rabbit poo first, never put it straight into the worm farm. I usually cut my front lawn and mix with the rabbit poo, and if I have some bokashi ready to go in the house it goes in there too. 3 weeks later, the contents have cooled down and ready to go into the worm farms. The wood shavings are soaked with urine, so I knew I needed to compost it first. | About the Author MiLK_MaN South Morang, VIC 23rd September 2011 8:37pm #UserID: 4085 Posts: 40 View All MiLK_MaN's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Karrinyup 27th September 2011 12:01am #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Brad2 G Hill,Perth 27th September 2011 11:09pm #UserID: 2323 Posts: 762 View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees |
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