Delivered Soil Too Hot? Help, please!

pdxwindjammer · June 15, 2013

I am concerned that my soil may be too warm and don't want to kill my plants.

I just had 1 1/2 units of Brahma 5 way soil delivered to fill a few raised beds and to sheet mulch my front yard for a landscaping project. When the soil was dumped, it was steaming! While I was working with it, I put my gloved hand in it and it is VERY warm! Is this normal?

This is the description:

5 Way Brahma Soil
Our 5-Way Brahma Soil Mix consists of fine dark barkdust, mushroom compost, sandy loam, pumice, and composted manure. It is a rich black color and very fine in texture.
Application: Your plants will love this soil! The mushroom compost adds nutrients while the sandy loam helps break up the hard clay and soil in our area.

They say that the manure is composted and a Master Gardener volunteer highly recommended this soil and said her plants are HUGE and healthy after planting in this.

I am doing this project so I can landscape my front yard and plant edibles mixed with ornamentals.

Please let me know if you think this is okay to plant in. I have never felt such warm soil but maybe the warmth is a sign it is properly composted?

June 15, 2013	#1
pdxwindjammer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 625	Delivered Soil Too Hot? Help, please! I am concerned that my soil may be too warm and don't want to kill my plants. I just had 1 1/2 units of Brahma 5 way soil delivered to fill a few raised beds and to sheet mulch my front yard for a landscaping project. When the soil was dumped, it was steaming! While I was working with it, I put my gloved hand in it and it is VERY warm! Is this normal? This is the description: 5 Way Brahma Soil Our 5-Way Brahma Soil Mix consists of fine dark barkdust, mushroom compost, sandy loam, pumice, and composted manure. It is a rich black color and very fine in texture. Application: Your plants will love this soil! The mushroom compost adds nutrients while the sandy loam helps break up the hard clay and soil in our area. They say that the manure is composted and a Master Gardener volunteer highly recommended this soil and said her plants are HUGE and healthy after planting in this. I am doing this project so I can landscape my front yard and plant edibles mixed with ornamentals. Please let me know if you think this is okay to plant in. I have never felt such warm soil but maybe the warmth is a sign it is properly composted?