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Mon, Mar 8, 10 at 21:50
| Hello, significant other wants a humming bird garden,I am new to all this and looking on web found these two recipe's for lean /well draining soil.
1. three parts coarse grit or stone chips,one part garden soil,one part peat or compost. 2. 9 parts coarse sand ,5 parts peat ,4 part pumice. Plants will be in 10' x 6'raised beds 16" - 18" deep starting from scratch ( no topsoil and hard as heck ). Salvia dorii,Salvia pachpylla,Salvia nemorasa,Stachy's coccinea,Achillea kellereri,Kniphofia hirsuta,Penstemon eatoni,Penstemon pinifolius,Penstemon virens, Agastache acapulco. I have a tree farm close by to purchase topsoil. Either plain screened ( tan dirt very little in the way of humus or compost)or mixed with sand and bark mulch. Thinking of using the latter and mixing in concrete sand ( coarsest I can find ) and some decomposed granite or expanded shale if i can find any in bulk. Am I on the right track ANY and all help appreciated.
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| Wow, Idahoan, you are more than a mile or 2 from my gardens. But, I've got some gravel I can sell you. I think you are on the right track but what do I know? I once "killed" plants in Moscow, there in the the Palouse Hills. Just couldn't make the adjustment from glacial till to wind-blown loess. And now, after 4 decades here . . . I posted the link below on the soil thread. Maybe it will be of help to you. Some of the ingredients you mention are included in those mixes. Steve |
Here is a link that might be useful: Attra - Potting Mixes
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- Posted by dan_staley 5b/S 2b AHS 6-7 (My Page) on Tue, Mar 9, 10 at 6:37
| When you make your mound, incorporate your mix into the native to get drainage. Two different layers won't drain until saturated (perched water table) and this will kill roots. I had an area in the yard in Sacramento that I dedicated to hummers & that's where I ended up all the time. You won't regret the extra work and care. Dan |
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- Posted by windwhipped Z4 WY (My Page) on Tue, Mar 9, 10 at 22:05
| For the granite, I use chicken grit. You can find it at feed stores in fairly large (and heavy) bags. |
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