I'm about to fill a garden bed with 47 cubic feet of soil... I've seen recommendations for a mix of 60% top soil, 30% compost, and 10% potting soil. You all are so good! Would that be wise? Or do you think some other mixture for new daylilies and a few other perennials??

You all know I'm a newbie!

I am sure there are as many soil recommendations as there are gardeners, but that mix sounds ok to me to start with. Over the years it will change considerably as you mulch year after year and the earthworms work their magic. The topsoil will be the anchor for your plants and the compost will provide organic matter and help with water and mineral retention and the potting soil will help provide a lighter mix for root growth and better drainage.

Thank you yet again! I hope the eathworms arrive!

@Barbalee

Hello and to ATP! I agree with everything @Seedfork has mentioned already. So I'll throw my two cents in here as well.

A lot of folks as do I, believe that pine fines are a great addition to your soil. Pine fines are simply, 1/4 inch or smaller pieces of pine bark mulch. It aides in the drainage of hard clay soils. I believe it also adds some acidity to the soil. Pine fines can be a bit of a challenge to find at times but worth it IMHO.

Also, Alfalfa pellets (pure not a mix of other things) is also great as a supplement to the soil. The alfalfa adds organic material and they feed those earth worms. Being in FL I have a very sugary sandy soil and I have to add a lot of organic material, usually in the form of mushroom compost, alfalfa and a particular brand of garden soil that has pine fines in it already. This gets my garden beds where I want it.

All that said I am a rookie gardener. So, I guess the trick is to find what works best for you and don't forget to have a soil sample done to find out what you dirt really is lacking... Good Luck

In FL, adding fresh Florida peat moss is a wonderful way to improve the soil. I use it a lot! As well as pine fines. My two favorite ingredients to add to sand.

Thank you both, Stan and Arlene. I'll hunt for both pine fines and alfalfa pellets, though I've never heard of either! The native soil here is very heavy clay, so I had the landscaper dig it all out, and I'm adding fresh. I have heard both good and bad about peat moss. I know my mother used it a lot in her beautiful gardens, but that was in Ohio, not northwest Texas. Thanks!!

I think you can get Alfalfa pellets at the Feedstore Barbalee.....I myself love mushroom compost, BlackKow (composted manure) http://www.blackkow.com/, peatmoss and coarse sands in my flower beds...of course I have to add all these goodies, since all I have is limestone and rock with very little soil that the builder threw on the top of those rocks... I wish I can send you my worms...got lots of it here...

Thanks for the alfalfa source, JavaMom! I'll have to see what kind of compost the landscaper can come up with, as well as peatmoss and sand. Thank you! While mine isn't limestone, my native soil is dreadful! Whatever worms I had, they're now dug out...I'll have to see if I can find some of those, too!

Welcome to APT, if you prepare the bed the worms will find you. There like us, always looking for something better.

Tee hee, Fred. You nailed it!