Mixing a large quantity of soil

[Boatguy]

I going to go out on a limb and assume the 12 yards is for an outdoor grow.
Just layer it, toss with a pitchfork and give it a few weeks to thoroughly blend together.
I usually prep my beds a month before planting. Last year i tried just top dressing without turning the soil and it didnt turn out as good as normal. Didnt need as much watering though.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

cement mixer?

 

[go go kid]

from experiance, mixers work well if used for a short period of time, but the longer it's spinning, the more small/fine paticlate matter accumulates at the very bottom of the mixing bowel.

 

[FlowerPower88]

cement mixer?

What size though? most affordable options are tiny and you’d be measuring more than anything it seemed to me so I kind of wrote the idea off.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

What size though? most affordable options are tiny and you’d be measuring more than anything it seemed to me so I kind of wrote the idea off.

I mean 5 cubic feet a batch is not bad .. and to just mix it in there and let it run and not have to shovel it all... seems worth it to me but hey if you have the young back have at it!

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

What size though? most affordable options are tiny and you’d be measuring more than anything it seemed to me so I kind of wrote the idea off.

I guess I am not sure what you mean by affordable also... if you are make that much soil you are already going to be spending a ton on inputs... I would think a cement mixer at like 400 bucks or so that can mix 5 cubic feet at once would be in the realm of possibility.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

I guess I am not sure what you mean by affordable also... if you are make that much soil you are already going to be spending a ton on inputs... I would think a cement mixer at like 400 bucks or so that can mix 5 cubic feet at once would be in the realm of possibility.

$400 is crazy to spend to mix up 37 gallons of soil if you ask me, but to each their own. I'd just get a big tub, or a kiddie pool if you don't care about a lid.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

$400 is crazy to spend to mix up 37 gallons of soil if you ask me, but to each their own. I'd just get a big tub, or a kiddie pool if you don't care about a lid.

have you ever tried to mix up enough soil to fill a 4 x 4 grass roots bed?? Ill pay the $400 bucks all day hahaha (as I sit here with my old ass having a pulled muscle in my chest... sneezing is hell) getting old sucks!

 

[PadawanWarrior]

have you ever tried to mix up enough soil to fill a 4 x 4 grass roots bed?? Ill pay the $400 bucks all day hahaha (as I sit here with my old ass having a pulled muscle in my chest... sneezing is hell) getting old sucks!

I hear ya. It was a bitch to fill all my 15 gal pots using a couple totes. I use a handcart to bring them up all the stairs. 15 gallons of soil with lava rock isn't light,

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

I hear ya. It was a bitch to fill all my 15 gal pots using a couple totes. I use a handcart to bring them up all the stairs. 15 gallons of soil with lava rock isn't light,

I still need to invest in a shit ton of pumice from BAS, i have not been able to find anything more affordable locally, but paying all that shipping cost is crazy... but they are literally shipping rocks sooo what can you do lol... I am still using own RSOL from a few years back so still all perlite. Hopefully I will be investing in a lot more soon here!

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

What size though? most affordable options are tiny and you’d be measuring more than anything it seemed to me so I kind of wrote the idea off.

Im an idiot... why not just rent the mixer? should only be like 50 bucks for a day... or rent a rear tine tiller and give it a few passes. Both should be available to rent from a big box hardware store.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

I still need to invest in a shit ton of pumice from BAS, i have not been able to find anything more affordable locally, but paying all that shipping cost is crazy... but they are literally shipping rocks sooo what can you do lol... I am still using own RSOL from a few years back so still all perlite. Hopefully I will be investing in a lot more soon here!

They're close to me so shipping is cheaper. And pumice is way lighter. It's crazy how much lighter it is than lava rock. It's cool to use it to add to your topdressing too. Keeps it from getting compact at the surface. Rice hulls are cool too, but don't last as long. But I really like both rice hulls and pumice.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

They're close to me so shipping is cheaper. And pumice is way lighter. It's crazy how much lighter it is than lava rock. It's cool to use it to add to your topdressing too. Keeps it from getting compact at the surface. Rice hulls are cool too, but don't last as long. But I really like both rice hulls and pumice.

Yeah I will be making some large purchases from them (as long as I dont get Jelly of the month club this year as a bonus lolz) thinking of just saying fuck it and going big... you only live once right?

 

[go go kid]

cement mixer?

very handy when mixing up large amounts of soil

 

[go go kid]

They're close to me so shipping is cheaper. And pumice is way lighter. It's crazy how much lighter it is than lava rock. It's cool to use it to add to your topdressing too. Keeps it from getting compact at the surface. Rice hulls are cool too, but don't last as long. But I really like both rice hulls and pumice.

have you looked into NAPA OIL GRI? its a cheaper alternative to perlite, but it can be difficult to get hold of

 

[PadawanWarrior]

have you looked into NAPA OIL GRI? its a cheaper alternative to perlite, but it can be difficult to get hold of

I know what you're talking about but I haven't used it.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NFD8822

 

[FlowerPower88]

I mean 5 cubic feet a batch is not bad .. and to just mix it in there and let it run and not have to shovel it all... seems worth it to me but hey if you have the young back have at it!

No I know it definitely saves work, but for instance I have 180 lbs of bone meal to mix in for instance (and many more, but that’s one of the big ones) now divide that into 5 cf batches, that’s 65-70 batches depending on how heavy you are with the peat and the composts etc. so you divide all 20 components by number of batches and measure, and spend a decent amount as well. If the cost was less yes. Or, like what I meant earlier, if it was more affordable to get a larger mixer, if it was $400 to get a half yard capacity mixer I’d be in.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Cheap snow blower.

 

[FlowerPower88]

Im an idiot... why not just rent the mixer? should only be like 50 bucks for a day... or rent a rear tine tiller and give it a few passes. Both should be available to rent from a big box hardware store.

Yeah I’m gonna go with tiller and some broad forks and maybe even throw in a kiddie pool or two

 

[FlowerPower88]

Cheap snow blower.

Also I have an old beat up blower that I’m gonna probably have at it with too, there are a couple of us, so we’ll churn it up somehow