Highlands Parkway HOA

Beautification by Jack

Feb 25, 2001

?“The Dirt on Potting Mixtures?”

Here?’s a dirty little secret about potting soil: because it has ingredients that keep the mixture loose and airy, it may not have any soil in it at all.

A quick way to judge potting soil is to lift it off the ground - buy the lightest bag. The least expensive potting soil ?– your 99 cents for a 20-pound bag of potting soil is probably mostly soil. Soil doesn?’t drain as well as the mixtures of other ingredients.

Most potting soils on the market are based on sphagnum peat moss mined from bogs in Canada. Peat moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss. It is light, porous and slightly acidic ?– just right for growing most container plants. Peat moss alone is too light to keep a plant upright in a pot ,and while it contains no nutrients of its own, it absorbs nutrients present in or added to the soil and releases them over time.

The top-of-the-line potting soils today contain an additive that helps infrequent or overly enthusiastic waterers. If peat moss is allowed to dry completely, it dries and shrinks away from the sides of the container. If overwatered, peat moss can stay too wet. Some of the better brands of potting soil that contain moisture retaining and releasing agents are:


Calloway?’s Premium Patio Mixture,
Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix
Schultz?’ MoisturePlus Potting Mix.

(source: Dallas Morning News)

Yard of the Month Continues!
Spring is just around the corner and once again this year HPHA is conducting a yard of the month contest for our paid members. Roll-up your sleeves, put on the gloves and turn your yard into the most beautiful in the neighborhood! One winner is chosen each month throughout the year, receiving a $25 gift certificate from Lowe?’s!
Happy Gardening! Jack Johnson