The very best DIY soil mix dish has been a long period of time in the making. This DIY soil mix isn’t just something I threw up on an impulse and hoped it worked; I spent a great deal of tireless hours researching this! I enjoy this soil as a Do It Yourself potting soil and for my Square Foot Garden Boxes.
I have actually been using a mix of Mel’s Mix and potting soil on our little homesteading; and the results have not been awful. I desired to take our garden to the next level. I wanted a DIY soil mix that would hold moisture, have lots of rich nutrition, be lighter (less compaction) and more sustainable. The result is the best Do It Yourself soil mix recipe around!
DIY Potting Soil and Raised Bed Dish
I mixed mine up in a wheel barrow this time but this makes mixing a lot harder. It would be better to do this on a thick tarp.
10 gallons of coconut coir (. What I used. ).
5 gallons of sorted compost (Ideally you’re composting in the house).
2 gallons of worm castings (. what I utilized. ).
8 quarts of natural vermiculite (. what I utilized. ).
5 cups of Azomite (. what I utilized. ).
I like to blend in each ingredient at a time.
- So very first I put down the coconut coir, then I added my sifted garden compost and utilized my hands to integrate them together.
- I duplicated that with the worm castings and vermiculite.
- I included the azomite (be cautious not to breathe the dust in!).
Now, let’s discuss the ingredients and why I included them.Component 1– Coconut Coir
Coconut coir is, first, a fantastic peat moss alternative. Peat moss is not sustainable; we are mining and using it at such a high rate coconut coir that it can not renew before we go out. Coconut coir is remaining from the coconut market, that was tossed away. What coconut coir does is add a spongy quality that it going to help your soil retain wetness (it can hold 10x its weight in water). It does not clump and will not break down in your soil as rapidly as peat moss either. It will as a dried brick and you’ll need to soak this in some water to re-hydrate it. Don’t throw it away if you have coconut coir left over! Simply keep it for the next time you make your DIY soil mix. I soak mine in a tub and break it up a little as I go
Active ingredient 2– Worm CastingsWorm castings are an incredible natural fertilizer. What’s terrific, too, is that plants soak up its nutrients quickly so it can stimulate growth much better than any manure or chemical fertilizer. It can even help a plant battle diseases by drawing out toxins. Worm castings also enhance the texture of the soil, aid to increase dry spell resistance AND it promotes great microbial activity. The very best way to get this fantastic additive is to be vermicomposting with your own little worms. However it isn’t a job I have going today, so I chose to purchase mine.
Component 3– Sorted Garden compost
I enjoy compost– it is generally free soil, when you do it yourself. This fertile soil builder is a need to have for homestead gardens. I like to sift mine due to the fact that I do not need uncooked products continuing to break down and warm up the soil (120 degrees isn’t unusual in Phoenix).
If you require some assistance getting started with garden compost check out. Compost 101 . If you decide to purchase it, just make sure you’re getting it from a trustworthy supplier that is utilizing organic products without pesticides or other scrap.
Component 4– Organic VermiculiteVermiculite helps keep soil from compacting but it also terrific for water retention. I reside in a desert environment so I want to have components that help my soil keep water. If you’re in a climate that gets a great deal of rain you may desire to consider perlite instead. Both are great ingredients however vermiculite is more sponge-like. So depending on your climate, pick what fits your needs.
Active ingredient 5– Azomite
Azomite stands for A to Z Of Minerals Consisting Of Micronutrient. Azomite is going to provide your soil a power punch of minerals. What’s fantastic about Azomite is that it is a sluggish release. So while your compost and worm castings are giving the initial dose of great nutrients, Azomite is going to follow them. Azomite won’t burn you plants … even if you put a ton of it in there.
What’s even cooler is that Azomite has actually been revealed to assist gardeners to produce more fruits and veggies (and larger) per plant. And the minerals enhance the nutrition for US!
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
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