Learn HOW TO Reuse Potting Soil!

If you have leftover potting soil from last year, don’t simply just leave it in the containers and reuse it. Do you want to look at how to revive that old potting soil for reuse by adding to it and restructuring it make up. The removal of roots and clumps can help with aeration and water holding capacity.
You also want to consider adding things like fertilizer. Synthetic typically will do better and a potting soil scenario, but if you would like you can also add organics.
How do you reuse your potting soil in the garden year after year 
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Ashley has had a passion for plants since she was a small child. In the long summers as a child, she would garden alongside her grandmother and it was then that she realized her love for greenery. With years of great studying, Ashley had begun her post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan.
At first, her second love, animals, was the career path she chose but while doing her undergrad she realized that her education would take her elsewhere. And with that, four years later she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in science and a major in Soil Science.
Some of Ashley’s interests are KZbin, in which she posts informative videos about plants and gardening. The focus of Ashley’s KZbin channel is to bring science to gardening in a way that is informative but also helpful to others learning to garden. She also talks about the importance of having your own garden and the joys of gardening indoors. Ashley continues to study plants in her free time and hopes to expand her KZbin channel as well as her reach to up-and-coming gardeners.
Disclaimer
This description or comments section may contain links to affiliate websites. I receive a commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such a link. This includes the gardening in Canada website. You should assume all links both on the gardening in Canada KZbin, Blog, and all other social media are affiliates and I will receive compensation.

[@GardeningInCanada]

GIC CREW! You wonderful soil covered nerds you. How old is your potting soil? Here is the hanging basket video! Everything You NEED to do to MASTER Hanging Baskets kzbin.info/www/bejne/hV6chIWkedmBoJo

[@GardeningInCanada]

This is what I pop in for fertilizer. I only add it when it comes time to actually plant in the pot. This ensures proper amount of fertilizer. Walmart - go.magik.ly/ml/22i98/ Amazon - geni.us/baMB Perlite - this would be my top choice over the stuff I had. I personally find the course perlite to work like a dream! geni.us/baMB

[@myjewelry4u]

It’s like 4 years old and I do add Pearlie and cococore (spelling?) I’d google it but again, lazy.

[@BrianM-44041]

@@myjewelry4u coco coir

[@BrianM-44041]

My potting soil mix is over 4 years old. Still going strong. I add to it and take from it every week. Sometimes daily. It was originally happy frog and promix bx mixed with compost.

[@myjewelry4u]

You just saved me so much money (unemployed so, no actual money)

[@tamrahawkes3170]

I always tell my friends…..” my uncles are all farmers and I’ve never heard of them buying new dirt lol”

[@GlenBHoward]

You've definitely out-done yourself! This is your BEST video yet! Twerking, blue tongue, two girls and one bag! Lost it!! Then watched it again!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it! The kool aid made me hyper 🤣

[@blacksmithden]

I do a lot of pot/bucket gardening, and at the end of the season, all my buckets go back into my big bin of compost/soil/kitchen scraps/neighbors apples/stuff. I mix it all up and it sits there until spring. Back into the buckets and pots it goes. I also use granular fertilizer, BUT, I don't use Miracle Gro. That's a good way to go bankrupt. There's a farm fertilizer distributor about 15 minutes from me that sells 55lb bags of various mixes. With tax, it works out to right around a buck a pound, which is about 1/3rd to 1/4 the price of the stuff they sell in the big box stores. Two 55lb bags (2 mixes) will last me probably around 3-5 years for all my gardening needs if my math serves me correctly. I just bought more a week ago, so the $1 per pound is an accurate spring-2024 price. If you live in the Edmonton area, the place I buy mine is Sturgeon Valley Fertilizer north of St Albert...because somebody was going to ask. :)

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is awesome!

[@trek150082]

Did u use the lawn and garden smiles bag for your garden? Veggies, flowers?

[@Cookontherun7391]

I actually was going to ask. Thanks for the info. Never thought to empty out the pots into the compost pile. Definitely a ton easier than what I have been doing. Brilliant. Love from Parkland County.

[@mgguygardening]

"It's going to be with my whole life. Probably longer than my husband will." LOL, I love the humour you add to your videos. I too reuse soil, it would just feel wrong to "throw it away" into the lawn or elsewhere.

[@GardeningInCanada]

so true! glad you enjoyed

[@heatherbray7713]

Love it!!! Everyone here thinks I’m crazy for dumping the old potting mix from the pots into the garden. Now I can go -Na na na na na na!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely best mix

[@Aussie-des420]

My soil has out lasted my wife of 30 years love ya work mate 👍💯

[@gendoll5006]

OMG PERFECT TIMING!!! I just got about 100 gallons of used soil from a local garden nursery for free! It’s good quality too, tons of perlite and fertilizer pearls/beads. They have a huge pile that I WILL be back for lol. But I just cleaned out the big sticks, any small seedlings, broke up big chunks, and took out the few pieces of plastic plant labels and added some blood meal and potted up! I’ll fertilize with liquid fertilizer in a week or so but omg I’m so relieved because my garden money is tapped out and I had to stop digging in our hard red clay soil because of my health so this was a God send for all my veggies that needed to be up-potted! Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

oh man that is awesome!

[@gerardhuiskamp9660]

Mine is only 5 years old! Bought in a garden center! After the garden season I empty the pots and chop the roots and stems. I then add 1/3 leaf mold and 1/3 green compost! Mix everything together well! I'll cover it and put it away! About 2 months before I use it again I add rock dust and sand! Check the fluffiness and add more leaf mold if necessary.

[@tracykozil5029]

I use biochar, compost and leaf mold

[@GardeningInCanada]

sounds awesome

[@gerardhuiskamp9660]

@@GardeningInCanada I'm also very satisfied with it! I grow a lot in pots such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, melon etc. Once I have planted them I cover them with half-decomposed autumn leaves and then I continue to mulch with whatever the garden produces as waste!

[@sharonhochberg3671]

Love it. Very organic and very recycling☺️

[@marcelacecil3036]

thanks for going over this topic. I have reused potting soil for a very long time, mostly because I couldn't afford new soil. Plants didn't seem to care. I'm happy to hear that is legit😬

[@GardeningInCanada]

it would cost me literal hundreds a year

[@sergeantklein6026]

I recommend placing a tarp between the pool and the soil. You can then mix it by lifting one corner at a time! 😊

[@GardeningInCanada]

oooooo loveee

[@debbiebolman2705]

I feel less shame about my fertilizer use now. Thanks for the honesty

[@GardeningInCanada]

No worries!

[@DwayneRose-g8b]

I believe she's lying, probably payed by miracle grow

[@timbrickman8716]

Hi and thanks for this. 30 yrs ago some indoor grow ops after harvest would put the root ball into a larger container wash the soilless mix out of the roots and rinse a few times to flush the build up of ferts then reuse the mix oh about 7 or 8 cycles a year. And yes only reused in the final pots The crops were very consistent. I move from sw Ontario where most would say wait til May 24 to plant out the tomatoes etc to central Nova Scotia 6 years ago here the advise is do not put out much before the first full moon in June . All gardeners here in the hills have a decent green house and a basement set up to start the seeds. I came for the reusing but your sinking info and the hot water tip will be tried this season Thanks again

[@cdncampcook8680]

I remember my first year gardening with promix.. i got all Gollum with it in the fall “ Why shouldn’t i keep it!? My precious!”

[@oy-wb8jv]

Coming out of the synthetic go-juice closet...this is why Canada is so great!

[@GardeningInCanada]

lolll

[@elizabethblane201]

Well, think about how "old" the Earth is, and how long Mother Nature has been recycling her potting mixes.

[@GardeningInCanada]

110% agree

[@657449]

I love your videos. You actually know what you are saying, not repeating something that you read. Kool Aid was a staple in Basic Training in 1968. We used it to make canteen water and the dissolved salt tablets drinkable.

[@GardeningInCanada]

basic training ahaha that and the garden hose

[@andrewlewis6388]

You are always keeping things so interesting!! There are times I am just listening to your videos and then you say something not so "PG", it makes me smile. Thank you for keeping things so light and relatable. I am telling everyone that talks to me about gardening to check you out. It is so nice to have someone so close to my zone (Zone 5) and from Canada. Keep it up!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

🙏 thank you. That’s some big compliments and boots to fill.

[@andrewlewis6388]

@@GardeningInCanada you have not disappointed yet!

[@danrooney2019]

Twerkiing in the garden with the miracle Gro disclaimer😂 you are on it today😂😂😂, Love the channel and the wisdom you provide

[@GardeningInCanada]

😁

[@ausfoodgarden]

Thanks for validating what I've done for years too. Basically root mats etc. in the compost. break up the old mix add coco coir and sifted compost for organics and away we go. I can't believe you used the "M" word for fertilizer.😊 I prefer organics but use synthetics too sometimes. They all work. The Kool-Aid bit in the middle and especially the end part were so funny, love it! Cheers!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Great tip! and glad you enjoyed

[@andersjohansson6118]

Going on year 4. I have been using the Berger BM-6. There's a commercial hort supplier on the other side of town where I get the compressed bales now to expand and refresh the existing media from last season. I grow primarily my entire garden in the Root Pouch fabric containers and use the Jack's AquaGold liquid fertilizer. My tomatos grow over 12 feet tall on my trellis. The only thing I don't container grow are sweet corn, sunflowers and strawberries. I use a calcium nitrate liquid feed on the sweet corn and it grew over 6 feet tall last year and had a good dense crop. The key to a great garden is to provide the nutrients and proper growing medium for the plant to grow strong and healthy. I have hed minimal insect pressure and virtually no disease pressure. While I go synthetic for fertilizer, I stick to organic (neem oil, etc) when it is necessary to address mildew. Thanks for another infortainment episode on soil(soil-less) sciences.

[@LuckyPat335]

Awesome. Still super rad! I like the term "synganic." I follow a lot of the organic protocol, but if my plants look sad, I have no problem giving them something synthetic because it's a lot quicker for the plant to uptake. Peace.

[@GardeningInCanada]

that's a good name

[@noora7773]

I need more bloopers😜 After I have went through the old potting soil to remove root masses and sticks, I use granular fish, blood, bone fertilizer on the potting hole and as the season progresses I later use liquid (synthetic) fertilizer to ensure my tomatoes and peppers get enough food. This year I got fancy and added worm castings and bat manure to the pots too in my balcony garden, but I just used it strategically near the root zone and potting hole because it's expensive. Last year I added horse manure pellets and as a former rider the faint familiar smell made me happy😅I have always had the thought that it mainly benefits the microbial activity and I was pretty surprised I found a real worm from my sixt floor balcony garden pots, so maybe I was able to make the soil be more alive! I use pretty deep pots, so maybe the soil won't dry up during the season very easily and I'm able to keep it alive...? But it is a mystery to me where the worm came from because I don't buy seedlings, only grow plants from seeds and buy bagged soil...

[@GardeningInCanada]

oh yea if you have a deeper pot you likely won't have a drying out issue

[@1polynation169]

this one made me laugh! thanks for having humor in your vids ! Stay bright

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@conniea9201]

😂😂😂 Kool Aid, Ohhh, yeah, I thought I was the only one who did that😂😂 I freaked out my grandsons when I did that 😂😂😂, and I absolutely loved this video ❤

[@GardeningInCanada]

LOL OOH YEAH! I FORGOT THE KOOL AID GUY SAID THAT AHAHAH

[@conniea9201]

@@GardeningInCanada 🤣🤣

[@teac117]

*hi five* from the synth club. Glad you came out of the closet.

[@LindaIngle]

I was going to the local pot shop to buy soil today… You just saved me about $50! Thank you

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad I could help!

[@halfmoonmario3]

Can you do a Q&A???? We wanna know if you smoke that dank :) LOVE❤️

[@richiecollins1071]

Brilliant video, big shout from Ireland. Keep up the good work.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Spankx

[@ImageMaven]

I reuse mine for sure. But I don’t always remix it. I don’t have a kiddie pool but I will just dump them all out on top of my garden and mix with some peat moss and maybe perlite as I haven’t planted anything yet. P.s. your Koolaid trick cracked me up. 😂

[@GardeningInCanada]

I had such a hard time keeping a straight face LMFAO

[@GardeningPrimal]

I’ve been reusing my potting soil for years as well 🥰 I also use both synthetic and organic ferts, and definitely granulated is the way to go. I’m a strictly raised bed/container gardener so hauling around jugs of water sucks, lol. Thanks for not being so one sided on the fertilizer, much appreciated 💕

[@GardeningInCanada]

Not problem! I don’t really stress much 😅 maybe my downfall

[@rachelcarey486]

That's really encouraging to hear about synthetic fertilizer! I bought a bunch years ago and then felt guilty after learning about no dig/permaculture, organic etc. Anyway, those are good things too but for things like houseplants, I think synthetic fertilizer is so much easier. Thanks for this!

[@GardeningInCanada]

anytime! see you next video

[@marilynturcotte5304]

You are Hilarious. I loved the blooper reel!! I have always reused my soil, just adjusting it if things weren't going well. Not it's a NO BRAINER!! I use organic liquid but I will watch the sales on the other stuff. Technically, a plant can't tell the difference between a organics or synthetic, FOOD IS FOOD!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

110%

[@CreativeRedundancy]

Kool Ashley ❤ I reuse what I can here not only to conserve but to sustain it longer. Nice green house.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Great idea!!

[@tamrahawkes3170]

In Alberta our season is so short I fertilize my petunias everytime I water! I have huge beautiful flowers 💐

[@GardeningInCanada]

Same here!

[@sarahing306]

Omg I have that exact pool. I bought it for my dog who we discovered hates swimming and it's just been sitting under the deck. Now I have a new use for it!😁

[@GardeningInCanada]

Perfect!

[@jenc7612]

I have a similar one that I would put out for my dog but as she got older she wasn’t interested so it got used for soil mixing last year. It’s so great. Holy now as it might have gotten stabbed by a shovel a few times but still works for mixing.

[@j.b.6855]

I just got done refreshing 47 five to seven gallon grow bags, pots, and sips, and I still have about 15 more to do. I never use synthetic fertilizers. Each year leaf mold/compost, pelletized chicken manure, additional perlite, and a little garden lime is added. You say that the additions might not be available to the plants, but this isnt a one year and done situation. Some of the mix is 6-7 years old and its a cumulative effect. Each year I notice more worms, bugs, and life in the mix. It could be because of the nature of sip's, or the larger size of mine (up to 40 gallon totes). They dont dry out and seem cool to the touch anytime I have to open one up. You might want to try a larger sip. I plan on reusing the same mix forever.

[@endo9351]

Last two days have been spent preppin and amending containers. Only way

[@HoaGarden902]

Love this video of recycling and saving money. I reuse my potting soil that is not infested with disease or pests. Take out the roots and store the good soil in a garbage bin. In larger containers just leave soil in there and takeout the roots. If soil has pests I dump it in my 15’x15’ compost area.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely perfect plan!

[@HoaGarden902]

@@GardeningInCanada Thanks for sharing content from good ole Saskatchewan. Last time I gardened there I got kicked out of the community garden club.😂I miss the prairies.

[@rickyry1583]

I reuse mine. It works still so why throw it away? That seems silly. Plus I'm a cheap ass mofo. 😂 Ohh, yeah.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Ahah exactly

[@timan2039]

Waste not

[@gracieshepardtothemax1743]

Oh I keep the soil in my beds and buy seed starting soil only for seeds and planting up. I will also buy compost to to add to my soil to amend it. I’m cheap too, but I notice a huge difference without compost. Last year I only added blood meal and bone meal to amend. Not as much to harvest!

[@rickyry1583]

​@@gracieshepardtothemax1743 thanks for the info. Ashley kinda said the same thing. Is the perlite just a neutral medium?

[@kgeeplays]

OMG the blooper reel 😂

[@Maggiester]

Thank you so much for this video!!

[@ZeFeratu]

You are hilarious. Great video! Buying new soil for each plant is incredibly expensive, and the used soil didn't do anything to deserve being thrown out 😂 This is the first year I'm growing a lot, but whenever a plant dies. I have never thrown out soil. If I'm growing other plants (which I think will be the case moving forward) I refresh it one way or another. If I am not growing other plants, I incorporate it into the yard. I look forward to the time when I don't need to buy 8+ huge bags of garden soil for the year. 🤞 Next year, maybe

[@dillonbuford]

Beer bong is the word

[@GardeningInCanada]

I am horrible at that lol

[@krisyallowega5487]

I have been using the same potting soil since 2011.

[@GardeningInCanada]

perfect!

[@marajokegr]

I have reused all my potting soil since the beginning (10+ years). But here's a question for you. If the plants had bugs (aphids, whitefly, thrips) is there a danger in reusing? My plan was to solarize the soil before planting this spring (in a big clear bag), but you know, time got away from me and it's time to plant?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I wouldn't use it inside but outdoors it would be okay

[@Argo53]

I use an old tarp when refreshing my potting soil - an old sheet works too. I tend to work in smaller batches and use the new mix immediately. It may take a few installments to get it all done but I'm better able to customize the refresh and will use the new mixture that same day -- at least, only have a bit to store in a garbage can. I prefer this to refreshing everything at once and then struggling to a "doggie-proof" the kiddie pool when I run out of steam!

[@hedgerow.homestead]

Perfect timing! My plan for today was to go buy peat moss... so I just picked up some perlite too!

[@GardeningInCanada]

perfect!

[@joannec1411]

Hi best friend in Saskatchewan! What are the white tubes in your hanging basket for? Can you please do a tutorial for hanging baskets? Also 2 girls 1 bag made me lol.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have that video coming out Sunday!

[@rosemcdonald6885]

I'm new to gardening, so my oldest soil is only 3 years old. I got well aged cow manure delivered by a local farmer though to refresh the nutrients and I also add slow release fertilizer granules. Most of my garden is grow bags.

[@CarbonKnights]

I've never reused my potting soil like that, but every year I just dump it into the raised beds, and it seems to do fine. I should give this a try. The nutrients are nutrients thing reminded me of a class in college, when the one girl who hated everything that wasn't totally organic argued with the prof for an hour, disrupted the whole class because she wouldn't believe that nitrogen is nitrogen, no matter what the source was... she dropped out less than a month later.

[@carolstuff]

This was a very helpful & funny video; thanks Ashley!

[@carllopresti697]

Thumbs up for synthetics!

[@gabrieleweidhuner5727]

The koolaid segment was too funny!😄😄😄

[@GardeningInCanada]

hahaha it was really tasty

[@lisalikesplants]

Great topic, thanks! 🌱🌱🌱

[@GardeningInCanada]

You are so welcome!

[@cherylmanson1279]

Haha, Canadian girl here. My daughter bought the bag of kool-aid too!

[@GardeningInCanada]

love that stuff

[@Kram360]

I use a tarp to mix mine. I’ve been using the same soul for at least the last 5 to 6 years, always grows good.

[@sergeantklein6026]

I like to toss it into my tumbling composter and add in charged biochar and other amendments with some UCG for a few weeks Then I pull from there as needed. If I’m making a full batch I’ll mix it like a weird twisted Mel’s mix

[@Cursed_cass]

Thank you! Ive reused my soil and i use whatever fertilizer I can afford. I did just truck in 6 yards of topsoil to redo my side and front bed, then top off my in ground beds when the season is over. (I ran out of room in the back. 😂)

[@jenniferpolk962]

You could use a shallow Rough Tote for mixing it up. Plus it has a lid, so you can cover it until you need to use it.

[@GardeningInCanada]

love this!

[@gardentours]

I reuse mine as well I just add some cuttings from the hedge with many fresh leaves 🍃

[@GardeningInCanada]

That's a great idea!

[@jenc7612]

I reuse mine every year too but always have to top up as it always seems less than it was. And thank you for the synthetic is ok talk as I always felt guilty if I used it and all the different organic options gets me confused so most of my garden would go unfertilized. Oh and the KoolAid thing was funny.

[@GardeningInCanada]

LOL wonderful!

[@daynamichelle4657]

Thank you! I don’t see the video about not reusing in hanging baskets. Did I miss it?

[@GardeningInCanada]

It’s coming out this week!

[@jem6070]

blooper, too funny! thanks for the fun laugh and the soil info

[@GardeningInCanada]

Any time!

[@TomatoJunkie-yg4ij]

Now that is good to know ! Thank you

[@Enn-]

Great info. Keep it simple.

[@GardeningInCanada]

[@jennifercarroll3355]

Thank you! I've always worried about disease potential in reused soil, so I have added it to the garden, but never reused in in pots. Is that overcautious? Also, where is the link for why you shouldn't reuse potting soil in hanging baskets?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have been waiting for it to be sent back to me! I was trying out potentially hiring an editor.... but they take longer than me.

[@MarySeal-so1ps]

Just been watching this video. Very interesting I must say. For many, many years I have been reusing my potting soil, and I do agree with just about every part of your suggestions. However, I am one of those whose trying to stear away from peatmoss. The UK has now phased this product out as it takes more than our lifetime to replenish! They have turned to coconut fibre instead, but trying to find an alternative here, in Ontario, has proven very difficult. Keep up the good work. You are obviously enjoying yourself. Which is a good thing.

[@tracykozil5029]

I use leaf mold to replace peat moss.

[@j.b.6855]

You need to watch the videos on peat from this channel While its a problem in the UK, in North America peat isnt as endangered.

[@miriambartley6622]

The peat moss I not threatened. Relax. Coir comes from the other side of the world, has to be processed and then shipped here. Canada has more peat than we will ever use.

[@BrianM-44041]

Rice hulls

[@GardeningInCanada]

Don some research on the peat from Canada. its heavily regulated

[@susiea1419]

I repurposed mine by putting on my garden! But from now on will do this and save myself a fortune! We cannot buy peat in the uk or peat based compost as it is banned due to preserving peat moorlands. Peatlands are a natural carbon dioxide sink, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and retaining it in the soil rather than the atmosphere. In Europe alone, peatland locks up about five times more carbon than forest.

[@AMKB01]

You are fricking hilarious! 🩷🩷

[@GardeningInCanada]

thank you

[@amandajones8079]

As a new gardener (grow bags) I have to buy all my soil new this year and holy shot it’s expensive!! Even the cheapest stuff!! I’ll only have to do it once though. My boyfriend is going to think I’m crazy when we move and I take all the soil with us 😂

[@roverinosnarkman7240]

Instead of a kiddie pool, you can get a mortar/concrete mixing tub from HD or Lowe’s or any big box hardware store. The edges are all rounded underneath making it much easier to mix stuff (no corners for stuff to get stuck in), they are tough and flexible (meant for shoveling abrasive concrete), and only cost between $7 to $15 depending on capacity. They will last much longer than cheap kiddie pools (that always seem to crack at the edges), are UV stable (so you can leave it outside all summer), and you can easily put one on top of a cheap plastic folding table (since they are rectangular) so you don’t have to bend over. The larger size is about 2ft by 3ft so you can easily reach across to the other side plus have some free table top space to one side. The smaller one is also a convenient size for potting up or making your seed mix. These are far less expensive than the frou-frou specialty potting soil tables from the designer gardening places.

[@GardeningInCanada]

ooo yes!

[@miriambartley6622]

I top dress with manure sometimes.

[@debbielavers9836]

I always reuse potting soil.

[@plantsoverpills1643]

Always recycle my soil….worked bloody hard for the compost in it!!!! Won’t use synthetics though so I’ll just pass over this video!!!😉….NEXT!!!

[@jeffsinnock5353]

Each year I add Compost with biochar leaf mold and KLF, I don't really turn it I mix in the first 1" and then an organic mix called Boost made here in Reno Nevada as a top dressing we have lived here for 14 years and I keep adding plus every other year some garden soil. living in the desert you experiment as to what holds the water. Plus how to grow cannabis outdoors.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That sounds awesome!

[@mrpricklythecactus]

Kool-aid/Gatorade same difference😂! I've people use big tarps and stuff to do things like going through old potting soil and mixing things up and whatnot what have you whatever, but I was thinking about that and then I saw your dogs in the background and I was like oh yeah... what if my dogs are outside and they're seeing messing around with some soil and they decide to try to help!? I need to get a plastic kiddie pool. Suppose I could rinse it out after and then dogs can have it sometimes🪻💙🌱

[@christopherhorn5274]

What's the reason behind using new potting mix for seedlings? If you're just using a soilless mix and using liquid fertilizer every time you water, why does it matter? Is it a pests thing?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes pest and then uniformity of the physical mix is something I’m picky on

[@edutainment8618]

This is really really (really) intriguing. Please Ashley, give us some specifics. Reusing potting mix is the *only way I can afford to garden this year. But I am none the wiser... I have that 9-16-16, but I have no idea how to use it with spent potting mix. In a large 40 gallon capacity planter, what would we do? Saturate everything so the fertilizer gets distributed everywhere? Once or every time you water? I have no idea. When you buy brand new Promix it provides plant food for "3 months". How do we know how to amend old mix that is devoid of nutrients? Please & thank you!

[@dwwcoder5048]

How about cocoa-peat and coarse vermiculite? I did this for all my beds and some containers.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yup! That works

[@dawnmitchell11]

This is good information, thank you!! I assumed soil would be no good after a few years. Well, you know what they say about assume(ing)! What do you recommend if you have had a bad year with pests? Toss soil, reuse and continue treating the pests, or another solution? Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

depends on the pest to be honest

[@bethb7973]

Hi! How long does synthetic fertilizer last? Thanks for another great video!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Slow release. three months but if you water a lot maybe less

[@miriambartley6622]

I use synthetics too.

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol I just came in to cool off ...from emptying my pots into new grow bags. It's 85 f here in central Illinois. Any tips to keep brassicas from bolting?

[@GardeningInCanada]

oh my good lord lol shade cloth, mulch and water with cold water

[@BrianM-44041]

Shade cloth!

[@wyoodrifter1811]

Great Video , one thing I've seen is the mineral buildup in soil that has been used long . Kinda like the The white stuff in swamp cooler that reacts with vinegar. The alkali mineral is very bad here in the water and people will paint fences and houses white with lawn sprinkler . I'll add sulfur every few years in yard to keep PH in check . Also any thoughts on CME and plants - careful .

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have had this with coir in particular I agree

[@Randombourg]

Cordless drill with an auger, remix and airate almost instantly

[@GardeningInCanada]

genius

[@sumyunguy9930]

Accumulating plastic leachings unless you’re using ceramic pots.. Do they make non plastic fabric pots? Fiberglass or somethin?

[@rebeccawatson9284]

lol! cute ending

[@GardeningInCanada]

hahah thanks

[@Orange_You_Glad]

Is there a way to refresh potting soil for perennials? Thinking of adding a goji to the backyard, but I want to keep it in a pot to avoid the goji taking over the garden.

[@mariem5990]

❤❤❤

[@Batchat2352]

You should do a review on miracle grow shake n feed. I belive it could be the best ferilizers for potted plants. It has organics and synthetic

[@GardeningInCanada]

Interesting

[@christinepoole2622]

😂😂 love your channel!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you!! 😁

[@tracykozil5029]

I have two more questions. First question...how do you store the soil in pool for the winter, do you cover it or leave open? Second question...what can be done if you think soil was diseased or bug infested? Can it be reused/treated? Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I just pop a tarp on it, you could compost it or solarize it for reuse

[@tracykozil5029]

@GardeningInCanada thank you! I'm learning so much from you! Your knowledge of gardening is such a valuable skill.

[@Rhondas_Flippin_Life]

I never understood why people threw away their soil it just didn't make sense to me... Plant stuff in the ground where the soil has been since the beginning of time but don't reuse what you already have and go buy more??? Like wtf why? 😂 The outtakes at the end though 😂 great stuff 🤣

[@GardeningInCanada]

that's a good way to look at it actually

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

that is so smart

[@jonathanhao1640]

So do organic fertilizers even work given the limited microbes in potting soils? Or do they just perform poorly compared to synthetic fertilizers? Thanks.

[@GardeningInCanada]

It honestly depends because if it’s a powdered organic then you could argue it’s more bioavailable in some regards. But composts and such I would steer away from

[@gl4675]

Okay but can we hear more on the longevity of potting soils vs husbands debate?

[@GardeningInCanada]

LMFAO

[@dr.froghopper6711]

My kiddie wading pool is only 3 years old but I get nutso and mix all my soil and compost in it. Blame desert air!

[@jessemxgangl]

Wish I'd seen this video two years ago.

[@terryjbrown6953]

Do you reuse the soil if your vegetables had powdery mildew or had blight, etc? If you do what do you do to the soil to kill it off so it's not contaminated no longer to reuse.

[@marilynmitchell2712]

I am also quite concerned about plant diseases and pests.

[@teac117]

Clean up litter. Almost all the phytophthora don't do well outside of their host matter... that means leaves, tubers, root clumps, etc. Like plot rotation, physical clean up at this level minimizes the amount of viable spores. You need to do this at end of season and not wait until spring when you need the potting mix.

[@BrianM-44041]

Peroxide. Yw

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is one I am careful with

[@BrianM-44041]

@@GardeningInCanada if you're not comfortable using peroxide, here's an idea 💡 Make a pile of used soil on the ground outside, and build a fire with some hardwood on top of it. When it's done burning you'll have added ashes and biochar to the mix for free and it should kill any pests or diseases as well. Molds ad mildews, as well as cabbage worms, thrips, spider mites, etc can taint a batch of soil for the next year if you're not careful. Another treatment is to add a few dozen worms to the soil and just let them eat all that stuff. Ladybugs, centipedes, etc should take care of the pests. Another way to get rid of mold and mildew is acidic teas as they thrive in an alkaline environment. Just a couple tricks I've used in years past. One could also actually put the soil into a metal barrel and use that to burn away the ick

[@xaviercruz4763]

Some of my potting soil is compost from 3 years and other is soil compost blend from hundreds of years I guess