I recently moved to a new home in a rural area. Supposedly I am now gardening on alvar. Personally, I would not dignify what I have as even being alvar. As testimony to that I offer the fact that the excavation for my new home consisted of four piles of soil (50%+ of that rock), less than a metre high and not much wider. Therefore, in order to garden in a traditional way, i.e. in the ground, I must create something to plant in. As mushroom compost is readily available and at a good price, I thought I would get several truckloads brought in and would then spread it around to start the process of building soil sufficiently deep and considerably better than what exists. However, being in an agricultural area (lots of grain), we have an abundance of rodents. Therefore, I am trying to be very careful not to make the situation worse. Has anyone had any problems with mushroom compost attracting rodents or other animals? Or does anyone have any other ideas for creating something I can garden in? I really do not wish to bring in "foreign" soil if I can avoid that. I did have about 20 yds. brought in for one area that turned out to be an absolute disaster (weeds and poor quality). This was from purportedly the best source in this area. I would be most grateful to any information that anyone can pass on to a very frustrated gardener. Thanks.
There is nothing in mushroom compost that would attract rodents, fear not. Are you planning to mix the compost into the ground for your garden, or grow in pure compost? You need to have a soil compost mix. Pure compost would just turn into muck. I suggest bringing in both soil and manure. That should fix the "quality" problem. As for the weeds... I think that just goes with the territory when in comes to bringing in soil. After working it for a year it should be under control. M.
Thanks globalist---I wasn't sure if mushrooms would be interesting to rodents or not. No, I am not planning on just leaving it on the surface. It would be worked into the scant bit of existing soil. Manure is also being used as it too is readily available (usually free). I also compost whatever I can and have large quantities, just not enough. Leaves are also available as I have about 2 1/2 acres of forest. However, I really prefer to let them be to nurture the trilliums, etc. growing there. I realize this is going to be a very long term process and perhaps someday a better source of topsoil will be available. The purchased soil problem is so severe that I really do not want to try that again. I have had to dig up the entire bed around the patio (where the purchased soil was put) in order to remove the weeds growing up through the perennials. You truly cannot imagine just how bad the problem has been. It even has me thinking about using Roundup in desperation. I have never, ever in all the years I have gardened, used a chemical and only once used baking soda to combat black spot on roses. However, the weeds contained in the soil are the worst of the worst, and I may have to resort to this. Probably would try one of the vinegar based products first. Many thanks for your thoughts.
