The disposal of old potting soil
Potting soil that is no longer needed can be disposed of in small quantities in the residual waste bin. Larger amounts end up in the organic waste bin, if available. However, it is essential to ensure that there are no plastic residues. Regional regulations must be observed in any case.
Potting soil that is contaminated with bacteria or vermin should definitely be disposed of in the general waste. If they were used in the garden, the pests would spread unhindered and cause even greater damage.
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- Steam the potting soil
However, one should not think that old potting soil is “waste”, on the contrary. The earth is depleted, but it can be revived. Therefore, it makes more sense to dispose of the soil in the garden. It can be scattered over the garden soil and incorporated or used on the compost. On the compost heap, the old soil immediately becomes part of the decomposition cycle and enriched again with nutrients. After a while it can be used again.
Continue to use potting soil
Although the potting soil contains little or no nutrients, it can still be used in other ways. Some examples:
- Use old potting soil for mulching. A mulch layer protects against excessive dehydration and suppresses the weeds
- Protect the roses from the winter cold with old potting soil
- Mixed with leaves, grass clippings, straw and brushwood, old potting soil forms the basis for the winter quarters of mouse and hedgehog
- With old potting soil, container plants can be isolated from the effects of frost
- old potting soil is further decomposed on the compost and converted into usable soil
Prepare potting soil
Instead of bringing large amounts of old potting soil to the material yard or disposing of it in the organic waste bin, it can be processed with little effort. The incorporation of biological slow-release fertilizer (horn shavings, horn meal (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) or a soil activator (primary rock meal, algae and microorganisms) bring the old earth back into balance.
