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Old soil reuse

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Category: gardening | Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:30 pm

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I have containers, pots, window boxs and raised beds full of soil that drastically need HELP! For last several years, have been hauling out two wheelbarrows, lining them with loose plastic sheets, emptying soil into one then using an ancient plastic hand sieve to sift soil into the other before putting in additives and refilling everything. This year I purchased a hand-operated rotary sieve in HOPES it'd make the backbreaking job just a wee bit easier..and BOY! has it!
In anticipation of the unit's arrival, I hauled in hanging baskets, containers I could MOVE easily and other pots full of soil into the sunroom, had 'em stacked everywhere! The rotary sieve arrived, got it put together, then realized I had NO WAY to get a wheelbarrow in there (and it was way too cold to work in garage or workshop), so now what? I wanted to start using the thing!
Sieve came in a box that was packaged within another box, discovered it was just right to set the 16 inch diameter new fangled object in, lined the box with a big plastic garbage bag to catch sifted soil and went to work.
It's truly amazing the amount of soil things hold til you empty them OUT, and would be a shame to not reuse it all! Took only minutes to get soils sieved: just half-filled the drum on rotary unit, sat on a bucket and turned the handle, watched the bag under it fill with SPEED, went "WHOA! This is too good to be TRUE!" as pot after pot, container after container of old, worn out soil disappeared into the depths of the garbage bag. When there wasn't room for any more, I put "processed" soil into empty heavy-duty wood pellet bags to sit til phase #2 came into operation, tied them off and stacked them..didn't take long to get a good supply on hand.
Phase #2 was "cutting in" new soil (Pro Mix BX) with the old to give it a boost at a 50-50 mixing rate. Made a scoop from an empty plastic bottle with a handle on it, worked beautifully for measuring soils.
Did three scoops of Pro Mix to three scoops of old, ran it thru the rotary sieve for blending, then rebagged and marked it as "done, ready for additives". Piece of cake!
Yesterday, I put together baskets of pansies and transplanted some Crego asters into bigger pots. Just opened a bag of the blend, scooped some soil into a bucket, added what I felt was needed ( a bit of bone meal, pelleted fertilizer, epsom salts and dried blood), dampened the soil with a liquid root booster, and tranplanted away to my hearts content! Sieved/blended soil was totally old root/stones and stick free, didn't clump, still retained enough perlite for lightning the soil, was just lovely to work with! As compost is still frozen solid, that'll be used to top off things later.. after a good sieving, of course!
As soon as weather permits (hopefully by late March) I'll tackle the raised beds and too-heavy-to-move containers outside, use the two wheelbarrow method so they won't feel left out, set the sieve in the largest and have at it, big time! Just LOVE that unit!!
(For general information: rotary sieve was purchased from Charley's Greenhouse and Supply of Mount Vernon, Washington. Cost was $64.95 on sale, has already about paid for itself.)


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Droopy wrote on Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:56 pm:

I can't help but laugh at your enthusiasm, well done!

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glendann wrote on Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:27 pm:

You sure have been busy.Sounds great.

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eileen wrote on Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:50 pm:

What a great investment and it saves your poor back into the bargain. There'll be no stopping you now!!

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mossflower wrote on Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:27 am:

I just checked Charleys and they don't seem to have this item anymore. From your description, I think it is the rotary sifter on all the British websites, but no one will ship to America. Does anyone know where I can buy one in the US? Any help will be appreciated very much!

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weeds n seeds wrote on Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:45 pm:

Mossflower: I checked when I bought the seive, it was in early Feb., 2008. If I remember right, it was one of the items included in Charley's Spring sale catalogue, was discounted from $79.95 to $64.95. Item number was 7599. You might try calling (1-800-322-4707) Charley's in regards to the rotary seive, or e-mailing them. If they don't carry the product anymore, they just might be able to tell you the manufacturer..are great people to do business with! Price sounds a bit "costly", but these seives are absolutely wonderful!! Weeds n Seeds

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mossflower wrote on Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:38 pm:

Thanks, Weeds, I will give them a call. I've searched for this sieve for a long time, and have contacted numerous English and European sellers, but no one will ship to the US. You are the first person I've run across that has owned one. Thanks again for the advice. Mossflower

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mossflower wrote on Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:23 am:

Hi Weeds and Seeds,
I wanted to thank you again for your help with finding the rotary sieve. I talked to the nice people at Charley's Greenhouse,but they don't have this item anymore. I'm so disappointed, because I have emailed a dozen "stores" in England and Europe trying to buy one, and they've all said they don't ship to the USA. Charleys imported them from England, so no luck for me there! They suggested I buy a large food mill. Take care of your Rota Sieve, and congratulations on your purchase! I'm going to keep trying.... there must be one more for me somewhere..
Thanks,
Mossflower

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weeds n seeds wrote on Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:28 pm:

Mossflower: may have located a sieve for you. Company is: "Lee Valley Tools"; price is $69.50. It's in their gardening section under "soil preparation", is exactly the same as what I have. For quick access to product, item number is PT305. Couldn't find their home location, but price was not in pounds as are the UK products, so maybe..just maybe. GOOD LUCK! WnS
P.S. I typed "rotary sieves for gardening" into search, found Lee Valley Tools listed on first page, clicked on it and item came right up. Hope it helps.. .

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weeds n seeds wrote on Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:29 pm:

Mossflower: may have located a sieve for you. Company is: "Lee Valley Tools"; price is $69.50. It's in their gardening section under "soil preparation", is exactly the same as what I have. For quick access to product, item number is PT305. Couldn't find their home location, but price was not in pounds as are the UK products, so maybe..just maybe. GOOD LUCK! WnS
P.S. I typed "rotary sieves for gardening" into search, found Lee Valley Tools listed on first page, clicked on it and item came right up. Hope it helps.. .

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mossflower wrote on Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:00 pm:

You and I think alike! I also found the Lee Valley site, promptly placed an order, and waited with all the excitement of a kid watching for Santa's sleigh! It arrived yesterday. I've just finished turning my compost and can't wait 'til it's ready to sift... maybe another month or so. THANK YOU for all your help. Gardening is such a joy and satisfaction, espcially after a long hard week. And Gardeners such as yourself and wonderful people to know! Thanks again, and Merry Christmas, one and all.

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mossflower wrote on Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:15 am:

Hey Weeds and Seeds! I got a surprise in the mail this week. Lee Valley Tools and Garden sent me a check for about $6.00. The accompanying letter said that it is their policy to refund money to customers if Lee Valley lowers the price of an item (within a certain period of time). I've never heard of such a generous policy. I bought that rotary sieve in early December. Anyway, just wanted to thank you again for your advice, and to recommend Lee Valley as a top notch supplier.

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