Soil ?

[PureHarvest]

Originally Posted by Worth1

You will be fine adding more compost and mixing.
Just remember it is a wives tail that compost is fertilizer it isn't, it is a soil builder.
Also compost is a generic term for anything broken down.
If it is wood and leaves you are going to have almost zilch nitrogen.

Worth

AMEN, Worth!
I can't tell you home many people I consult with think the opposite.

MFS, if you wanna geek out a tad, and layering on top has worked for you over time, I'd keep doing that. Reason is, you are gonna destroy the soil food web that has been building in this existing bed all these years. Plus the second you till/turn/ dig into it, you introduce oxygen. This burns up any organic matter that is still in there.
Just something to consider.

[Farmette]

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

AMEN, Worth!
I can't tell you home many people I consult with think the opposite.

MFS, if you wanna geek out a tad, and layering on top has worked for you over time, I'd keep doing that. Reason is, you are gonna destroy the soil food web that has been building in this existing bed all these years. Plus the second you till/turn/ dig into it, you introduce oxygen. This burns up any organic matter that is still in there.
Just something to consider.

I am confused here, but appreciating this thread. I thought it was common practice for raised bed gardeners to turn over the soul in spring, with most of them adding compost, etc. Are you saying they should not turn the soil over? I know it is not good to rototill an in ground bed, but what about turning over by hand to mix in additives. Thanks!

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Farmette

I am confused here, but appreciating this thread. I thought it was common practice for raised bed gardeners to turn over the soul in spring, with most of them adding compost, etc. Are you saying they should not turn the soil over? Thanks!

I am going to answer for him if you dont mind and that is for the both of you.
You are tearing up the house so to speak.
If I turned over my beds and mixed everything back up I would be killing some really nice beautiful snake sized worms and ruing the structure of the soil.
It is a living organism that is best left undisturbed.
There are critter and webs of fungus you cant see that will be destroyed these are what help break down nutrients so the plants can feed.
It is like setting a bomb off in a factory.

Worth