A Simple DIY Potting Soil Mixture 

Fine back and peat moss

Maple , Oak, Apple, & other deciduous leaves, Redwood duff & bark, and pine bark, with horse & chicken manure compost. The amounts of each vary, depending on the plants I'm growing.

Well I have some horse poo (which I think will retain water), and used coffee grounds, so I was going to base my mix around the properties in those

Evergreen top soil. 1cubic foot. One trade gallon pot full peat moss 1/4. Same pot vermiculite. Mix in cement mixer.

1/3 each pumice/perlite peat most and 50/50 compost castings

Good place to sit. My Paw Paw sat in one.

Welcome aboard! Glad you're here now.

Chanel makes a good cologne

Good tip! Especially the last part. I'm going to try it next time.

Or a piece of plywood or two. Slide a piece over the tailgate & you have a nice smooth surface to work from.

Harbor Freight has a 2000 Lb. Capacity Truck Bed Cargo Unloader for $50. If you carry mulch, sand or gravel, this is the tool to have.

He is an absolute treasure!

Nice... that can work very, very well. No serious nursery person or gardener ever said, "you know, I've just got too much potting soil."

Everybody's gotta sit somewhere!

Overarching principles - that's what we're trying to do!! thank you

NICE find!!

I'm sure people everywhere use different mixes that are very effective, including stuff I've never even heard of.

Great! Thanks for watching.

Mushroom mixed with something coarse that will drain... like pine bark, etc.

@@savvydirtfarmer Yes. I also plan to look for the fine ground pine bark when I go to my Lowe’s Monday. One commenter said he found a product at Lowe’s called “Clay Breaker.”

@@hosta127 yes. I've never heard of that, but it's likely very similar and will work great.

Yes I am!

@@savvydirtfarmer , Awesome! Do ya have your nursery going right now ? Do ya sell succulents/ sempervivums by any chance ? I’m in Sevierville, near Gatlinburg. How cool ! I know a TN accent when I hear it . Tickled to see ya here 😊

@@littlebeebs1 Shut down for the year now, really. I've never grown any succulents at all... probably will as time goes on... they're so popular!

Nice ! Sorry for the late reply. Haha ! Watching your video again. I’m so incredibly bummed that I can’t get the Evergreen Soil Conditioner here in sevierville and they won’t ship if from Lowe’s or HD . It’s just what I need for my sempervivums to aerate and lighten my soil. I’ve been having to try to use a mulcher to chop up pine bark mini nuggets, which is tedious. Or buy Repti Bark from the pet store at silly prices . At least I don’t have to dig white wood out of the Repti bark like I do the mini nuggets . But it’s still a pain . I didn’t consider soil heating from nutrients. One type of soil I bought mentioned heating on their website. But they don’t go into anymore detail and they won’t answer my emails as to what the NPK ratios are . So I’m scared to use it on plants that don’t need that much nutrients. It seems that my town is more concerned with the needs of the visiting tourists than the locals . So I’d have to drive 63 miles to get a bag of something similar to this . And I can’t even find reviews about the similar product. But anyway, hope you’re doing great and your plants are thriving. Hens and chicks are a fun way to start with succulents and they’re pretty easy to grow as long as you have fast drainage and fairly quick drying soil . They’re my new favorite. I have over 100 needing planted and just can’t find the perfect amendments I need . I’ll try some sawmills and see what they can offer. Thank you 😊

Thank you so much!

Glad it was helpful!

How much of each?

@@jaithevegan I use about 66% top soil to 33% compost/manure, but my soil is very clay-heavy.

@@BattleToads thank you!!!

@@jaithevegan Just a heads up, I am now getting rid of all my clay soil and using the mulch described here. Call sawmills and mulch places, you should be able to find some. Most of my plants have now rotted or died because the clay soil just doesn't drain. Intense heatwave here and the soil is still like mud in the pots.

Next time!

Yeah and his tag was covered

Welcome aboard!!

Yay! Thank you!

I like low key. I appreciate it

Thanks!

You can put it on top of the ground, but I would not dig it into the soil - it will deplete your nitrogen.

It's around 70% pine to 30% hardwood. Doesn't need to be anything exact, and will vary by the quality of material you have available.

@@savvydirtfarmer Appreciate the response, thank you! Will be starting plants this year to hopefully get going on small nursery next year. Best of luck this season, you're doing great!

yes! that should work well - just make sure it's cypress bark and not cypress wood.

@@savvydirtfarmer Thank you! For us new gardeners, you are a vital support link to success. I live in Oklahoma and am using 3 year old potting mix in self wicking 22 gallon empty cow lick tubs. I planted 13 tomato plants and have only gotten 4 small tomatoes. The leaves look weak/sickly. I am almost positive my potting mix is "spent" on necessary macro and micro nutrients even though Im using Masterblend soluble 4-18-38 and fish emulsion and a good insoluble fertilizer. Hoping to recover my potting mix. Thank you for making this video. A lot of learning for sure.

I do not grow herbs or micro greens. But I KNOW it can be a successful project... nearly any growing project can.

@@savvydirtfarmer Ok. Thank you.

I’ve never used sand in my potting soil, only in propagation. You can propagate in straight sand. Sand as part of potting soil is very heavy.

Go heavy on the pine bark, well mixed with ages horse manure and you should be good. Toss some peat in if you like, but 60+% pine… manure and peat both hold lots of moisture.

I use this for virtually everything I do. As for seedlings, I would probably incorporate 50% or so peat.

@@savvydirtfarmer I will give it a whirl. Thank you!

yes, that is what I pick up mulch in.

You’d just have to try it. The manure/sawdust would need to be very well aged and broken down completely

In the past I always bought it at Lowes. Now I buy it in bulk locally. Don't know your location, but pine bark and other bark's availability are going to vary widely by regions.

I don't grow anything from seed. I would think a starter mix would be best though.

Now that you mentioned that I'm going to grow something from seeds using potting mix just to see how well it does,im a newbie but why do we really need a seed starter mix,thats just more money🤔🤔 (NEW JERSEY)

You need bark products. Pine needles? I can't imagine how you could use that as a potting soil ingredient. You need drainage and moisture retention - a number of ways to get there, you just have to find out what's available in your area.

1tbsp per gallon

Mostly, I don’t protect my plants at all. They just sit out in the weather- cold, rain, snow, ice, whatever. You can cover with white plastic.

Yes! Just test as you go... it can hold a lot of moisture.

I imagine that manure compost would hold a lot of moisture. Maybe mix that compost with 20% pine bark and see? Can't be sure unless you try it. Just makes sure it is very well draining but doesn't dry out too fast.

I let mine sit outside and for about 4-6 weeks before I use it. Barn would be ok I think as long as it has some ventilation

I've never tried it, but I would think it would be good. Start with higher percent of pine fines until you find the right mix. The mushroom compost and the pine need to be composted pretty well, at least not in any way "hot." If you do it, let me know how it goes. People ask me about that same combo from time to time and I've never actually used it.

I don't have a detailed fertilizer video. I just use a general purpose slow release, applied once a year.

@@savvydirtfarmer thank you! You specified not to use a cheap one, may I ask what brand you use?

@@CBlakeDavis Take a look at this video @15:46: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-daR6yaa9SfU.html

Maybe in small quantities, but it would need to sit for a while. Wood dust is known to zap nitrogen from the soil and cause a deficiency for plants. If it sits and composts for a while a neutralizes some, it may work. It's worth a try, in a small batch of plants, to see what happens.

Not really. Maybe in time.

Double ground hardwood bark mulch. The bark aspect is crucial as you don’t want wood as potting media

For potting soil wood = no good.

@@savvydirtfarmer Ok thanks guys. I will call them and see if they have it. If not I do have a few big sawmills near me and see if they have it.

Out of curiousty why is the wood bad?

@@randyman8984 its a problem because of several issues, particulate size , nitrogen lock , tannins , fungus . Not saying it cannot be used. I have blackberries growing in it, however the chips have been in a chicken run for a year before the chips where put into pots. Overall it’s not as predictable as a mix without wood

I don't grow much from seed but need to learn!

I do 1/3 compost 1/3 peat 1/3 chips or perlite 4 cups per yard of oyster shell, crab meal, kelp meal, glacier rock or azomite what Evers cheaper at the time

You’re well in your way… just gotta go with what is available in your area. Nice!

I don't know a thing about it. I never test anything. Just pot, fertilize, and grow.

University extension studies of the pH of soils permanently mulched with pine bark show no short or long term increase in acidity. Similarly, studies of pine straw (pine needles) mulch do not make the soil more acid. Pine bark potting mixes are generally of a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. A pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is not very acid, and would be acceptable to most plants.

@@DovidM Thanks for the info.

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When I get mine, it's pretty fresh... still hot (as in, smokin' hot) straight from the sawmill. It has a distinct smell when it's hot. When it has sat long enough that the smell changes to something like dirt, or humus, it's ready to go! Doesn't take anywhere near a year. More like 6-8 weeks, depending on your local weather and such, I'm sure.

@@savvydirtfarmer thanks so much, that's a huge help! Also thanks for taking the time to share all of your videos, which have truly helpful information.

I get my hardwood bark from a local lumber mill. If you have any mills within reasonable driving distance, that may be worth looking into. They all have to debark their trees. Rice husks, perlite, vermiculite all make decent alternatives to pine bark.

@@savvydirtfarmer I think I can get the pine bark; it's the mixed, aged hardwood bark that I won't be able to get. Right now I'm using 1 part peat, 1 part compost, and 1/2 part perlite, but it's expensive compared to your two ingredients.

@@billybass6419 Try the pine bark the about 20-30% compost. All compost is not the same, but if it's not too sticky, that ratio, or something close, should do you fine.

It should work fine... just needs to be mixed with some pine bark, fir bark, or whatever well -draining material is available in your locale.

@@savvydirtfarmer Thank you.

i dont test or adjust ph in any way.

Best to use both. The hardwood bark doesn't sit around long enough for termites to infest.

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@@savvydirtfarmer, in your video, you mention that the ratio is not super important to get hung up on, however, you are buying the hardwood bark by the cubic yard vs the pine bark by the cubic foot. What is the ratio that you use “roughly”? I would imagine that it is more hardwood bark than pine as you buy it in larger quantities. Looking to start my own nursery and your videos have inspired me!

No, it just makes it drain well. It is a common base for potting soil in the nursery industry.

Good to know. Thank you. Do you know what would make soil more acidic quickly? I added Espoma soil acidifier to my pots I'm prepping for blueberry bushes, but then I learned that can take a while before it actually lowers the PH... Also, if there is something I can add now, will it make the soil too acidic later when the soil acidifier activates (or whatever), since I already mixed that all in?

@@EmilyDawn6 peat moss is low ph …. i use a50/50 top soil and peat mix for my blueberries, azaleas, amd other acidic loving plants

Couple of years old now… but about $25.

Yes! Good eye.

Yes

OK

Right!? She actually works her rear end off.... and I'm thankful for that.

@@savvydirtfarmer haha mine too. And I was totally joking. My wife also takes kickboxing so I gotta watch what I say or I get a foot to the face. Really love your channel. I'm in need of additional income and I've been propagating plants for my own use all my life. Getting the nerve up to try selling. My yard is full of high dollar ornamental plus fan favorites like grapes, figs, and thornless blackberries in addition to hostas, nut trees, dogwoods, Holly, redbud, and tons more bushes like wageila and flowing almond and lilacs.

Just subscribed today and working my way through the list. I know nothing of shipping or how to charge for that or how to pack the plants. Hopefully you have material on that. So far every single video has been extremely helpful. And I have a thick 40 x 25 tarp that will be the perfect ground cover. Just making plans now but even that helps take the stress off somewhat. Just knowing there is a way out helps. This inflation and gas is crushing my family. Everything went up ... except my hourly wage and I'm barely holding on. Your videos give me hope and a feeling like I am in control of my own destiny rather than being powerless. Thank you for that.

@@darkangelsoaps8258 Sounds like you've got 2/3 of it figured out... getting "the nerve" to do it? That's a whole 'nother thing - I assure you, I struggled with it myself.

Always make do with what I have until it make sense to upgrade... but when I do, I'll get a 2 wheel with more capacity.