Earlier this spring I bought a second load of topsoil. In fact 3 yards worth. I think it is clay. I has a lot of small stone in it as if I needed anymore of them but I just finally used some of it to fill in some holes on the lawn and to top dress the lawn that I just reseeded. When it gets dry it is like cement. I haven't checked the PH yet but I am sure it isn't going to be good news. I read an article that said you could just spread gypsum on top of the soil and it would loosen it up. Has anyone ever tried that?
Thank goodness it isn't the load I used in my asparagus bed but it is what I have to fill the box that I have to build this week. I plan on mixing peat moss and gypsum into it as I load it on the trailer to fill the box. Of course if it is clay the peat moss is just going to add to the acidic factor so hopefully the gypsum will off set it.
Growing and Cooking
I got some bad soil once....it was almost like clay, and I have never had to deal with clay. I worked several bushel baskets of sawdust and leaves into it and it mellowed it out. Charlene
Sorry to hear that Bette, you work so hard and like you said you do not need anymore stones, big or small. Hope it won't take too much to amend your soil/clay.
Should ask for a refund !!!!!!, that's not what you counted on getting...
Donna
Charlene, I which I had either or available to me right now. I do have some leaves I could mulch up but I am sure not enough. I am hoping the gypsum does the trick as I have a whole bag of it that I bought quite some time ago.
I think I'd ask them to either come scoop it up and take it back and bring good topsoil or bring a load of compost or something to mix with it. I've never dealt with clay til I went to my friend's house, I would think maybe even wood chips with leaves tilled into it. Never dealt with gypsum, not sure I even know what that is.
-Deloris
Unfortunately sending it back isn't an option. I have a hardware cloth screen that I made for my trailer a couple of years ago. I will just screen it as I load it onto the trailer and mix stuff in right while it is in the trailer then dump it in the raised bed. One might say I got what I paid for as it was a good price. Paid almost as much for a much smaller load but it is nice topsoil except full of weed. I have to weed the pile it has been sitting there so long before I can load it so I guess nothing is perfect in this world. LOL
DH just made arrangements to borrow his brother's truck Monday, when I am off, to go get me a load of topsoil and then hopefully also a load of mulch. I told him I will unload it and clean the truck back up, I know he will want to help me, but his back is still bad going, to have to have an MRI, and also his tremor is worse in his right hand/arm and the neurologist thinks it is Parkinson's....:( he is so bummed about that, but could be worse. It is so hard for me to realize that he may be past being able to do things outside with me like he used to.
I just want him to drive his brother's truck, as I used his dad's truck to haul plants back when we had the business and I had a little 'incident' with it and had to have some repairs, after that I said I wasn't driving anyone else's vehicle.....But, I will be so happy to get some more topsoil and mulch! Been spending a fortune on bagged garden soil and mulch......got to get bulk.
It could be worse but your hubby is such a nice man, I so hope they are wrong and if not, its caught early and they can help ward it off. I prayed for him today, that is not a nice disease so enjoy every moment now Wanda with him.
Wilderness here in Toronto when you buy top soil what you get is the soil from a lot where they plan to build something,and who knows what was on that lot before.Wont touch the stuff, I'd rather go in the woods and fill some boxes with woodland soil for my garden.I have done this many times.
Bill
Ot I know what you mean. I live on nothing but woodland but done have the time and energy at my age to go out and dig it up. This can be fixed.
Woodland soil is great but here there is too many tree roots, ticks, snakes, wild grape vine & Poison Ivy to attempt digging any up.
Reiman Publications: Corporate | Contact Us | About Us | Privacy Policy | Publication List | Advertise With Us
Taste of Home | Taste of Home’s Healthy Cooking | Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious | Cooking for 2 | Birds & Blooms
Country Woman | Country | Farm & Ranch Living | Reminisce | The Family Handyman |
Taste of Home Cooking Schools | Community Forums
© Reiman Media Group, LLC.,