Garden Soil Mix
Homemade garden soil is easy to make and better for your plants. Mixing compost, topsoil, and other natural materials allows you to control what goes in and get healthier, more productive soil without the added chemicals.
Inventory
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Tools & Equipment
Ingredients
- Topsoil, 2 parts
- Compost, 2 parts
- Perlite, 1 part (optional - for better drainage and aeration)
- Coco Coir, 1 part (optional - for better water retention)
- Coarse Sand, 1/2 part (optional - for better drainage and aeration)
Instructions
Prep Coco Coir (optional)
If your coco coir is still a brick from the packaging, add it to a large bin and pour some water on it until the coco coir is light and fluffy. It will expand to about 4-9 x in volume.
Mix ingredients
Lay down a tarp next to your garden area. Using a 5-gallon bucket as a measuring tool, add two scoops each of topsoil and compost and one scoop of perlite and coco coir (if using) on the tarp. Repeat until you have enough mix. Use the shovel to combine the ingredients evenly.
Storage: Put any remaining seed starting mix in a tightly sealed bucket or bin. If necessary, keep the lid off until the mix is dry. Store in a cool, dry place. Check for mold, clumping, or an off smell before using.
Modifications
Amendments
Depending on your plant's needs, consider the following amendments to help boost soil and plant health.
- Manure | nitrogen
- Worm Castings | nutrients
- Alfalfa Meal | nitrogen & trace minerals
- Bone Meal | phosphorus & calcium
- Blood Meal | nitrogen, lower pH
- Fish Emulsion/Fish Meal | balanced nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium
- Kelp Meal/Seaweed | potassium & micronutrients
- Leaf Mold | soil structure & water retention
- Grass Clippings | nitrogen
- Pine Needles | lowers pH
- Agricultural Lime | raises pH, calcium & magnesium
- Gypsum | calcium without altering pH
- Rock Phosphate | long-term phosphorus
- Greensand | potassium & trace minerals
- Azomite | trace minerals
- Dolomite Lime | raises pH
- Sulfur | lowers pH, sulfur
- Vermiculite | retains moisture
- Zeolite | nutrient retention
- Basalt Rock Dust | slow-releasing minerals
- Biochar | carbon, nutrient retention
- Epsom Salt | magnesium & sulfur
- Crushed Oyster Shells | calcium, raises pH
- Granite Dust | slow-releasing potassium
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