Soil Mix for a bog garden?

[davecatt]

Try a half and half mix if your using straw. Remember though that if your increasing the moisture content of the soil you are also increasing the microbiotic content so be sure to avoid any leakage into the pond.
Dave

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by davecatt

Try a half and half mix if your using straw. Remember though that if your increasing the moisture content of the soil you are also increasing the microbiotic content so be sure to avoid any leakage into the pond.
Dave

Thanks. I'll remember. I don't have the straw yet, so I'll get what I can tomorrow before filling it. The pond is full now, and it looks like I managed to get the levels ok because it seems to be overflowing into the bog garden hole quite nicely.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Dragonyka

I have absolutely no intention of putting peat in it - I try my best to avoid ordinary compost with peat in

....Apart from a bog application, can someone please educate me why commercial composts containing peat should be avoided, please?

Thanks

[Dragonyka]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

....Apart from a bog application, can someone please educate me why commercial composts containing peat should be avoided, please?

Thanks

My reason is that they're digging up the peat bogs at a horrendous rate, and consequently it's a disappearing habitat. Besides which, as far as I can see there's no reason to have peat in the compost.

[Brocakat]

Davecatt is correct when he writes adding Leylandii clippings [ probably most other coniferous material, also?) to lower (acidify) the pH . If that ( & it was questioned ) was what was required.

But soils (& maybe pond vegetation) with neutral to alkaline levels of pH - will support a greater diversity of flora & fauna -- than acidic soils/waters.