Using old soil

[Wheelie]

I just had a phone call to say they are coming to fill up my new wheelchair raised bed next week. When they built it, they had to remove 2 old smaller beds to fit it in. Prior to building these beds had lots of weeds in, so I sprayed them with weed killer. This was around 9mths ago. The old soil was left here so I could use it in my new bed.
Will it be ok to use this soil for the bottom of the bed and fill the rest with compost?

[burnie]

I would have thought so, what weed killer was used? I take it you will be growing edibles in it?

[Wheelie]

Hi burnie, yes growing veg. I know it was systemic weed killer probably roundup from memory.

[burnie]

Nine months of weather should have diluted it to safe enough levels, I don't use weed killer myself, but I believe it is used by a lot of commercial growers, so it is already in our food sadly.

[Kirk]

Shouldn't have a problem with the old weed killer. If Roundup or another gylphosphate it will have broken down some time ago.

What are they going to fill the beds with?
If compost alone it might be a good idea to get some manure in with it to add to the organic nutrient levels.

[Wheelie]

Hi Kirk, yes, I was reading about putting well rotted manure in. Iknow stables often offer it, but I’m too scared to buy it as if it’s not rotted properly I don’t want to wipe out my crops! Is there anywhere to buy it safely? Haven’t asked at the garden care.

[bikermike]

most garden centres sell the marvelously-named "horse compost"[1] in bags. Much more expensive than if you get from the horse's, errm... but it is well-rotted. The irony was that last time I bought some, I had to drive round a pile of fresh on the road...

[1]when you think about it, composted horse is much less pleasant than horse manure

[Wheelie]

Pmsl you are quite right.

I shall go ask at the garden care. Thanks for that

[burnie]

I got some free compost from the local council tip, you have to collect it yourself is the only down side to that though

[nickdub]

I'd have a chat with the stable owner if I was you - if the manure has been stacked for 6 months or more it should be fine to use.

[Wheelie]

I'd have a chat with the stable owner if I was you - if the manure has been stacked for 6 months or more it should be fine to use.

I just worry there’s some young teenage girl that might just chuck fresh on it without thinking.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Personally I wouldn't use council compost as you don't know what's been put into it. If you are unsure about using horse manure I'd go for mushroom compost which is cheap and won't have any weed seeds.

[Wheelie]

Not heard of mushroom compost. Is it as good?

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^^In my opinion yes.

If buying horse manure from a farm you have to be careful as they sometimes spray their grazing fields with a weed killer that can get into your beds/garden and cause havoc. Someone will be along a give us the name please....

[rary]

Mushroom compost is usually a higher ph but good for the garden, when I am using a high compost content I add sixX which is a concentrated manure, and I have seen it several places 3 for 2.