Viewing post #1213223 by DogsNDaylilies

Lestv said:

I grew up in Grand Haven. We had dune sand underlying everything, and on top was a very rich black topsoil. You don't see that type of topsoil anywhere around here. My Dad's iris always grew very well. The sand was great drainage, and the soil was rich.

I have a garden mix, which is soil with a mushroom compost that was mixed in , delivered by the cubic yard. I will need 4 cubic yards for my newest raised bed. That is a whole lot of wheelbarrows I will be hauling.

I hear ya! I've been hauling dirt from my driveway to the opposite end of my backyard today to fill the new 4' x 4' bed for my new irises. Completely worth it, though, I think.

It sounds like you did have some nice soil in Grand Haven. It's possible we had that at one point where I'm at, too, but doubtful, considering the high clay content. I'm sure there was a lot of better topsoil though before they stripped this area for new construction houses some years ago. It's slowly building back, but I have no idea if it will ever get to be anything truly great to grow in. I'm hoping our next house has some great soil, though, and/or some goats or horses nearby that I can collect 'nature's fertilizer' from.