How to Make Your Own Potting Soil

Save money, ensure your garden is organic and really go green all at the same time when you make your own potting soil! Besides, it's just good clean fun! Well, okay, maybe not clean.

Things You'll Need

• 1 part sand
• 1 part clay loam
• 1 part organic matter
• 1-1/2 cups Epsom salt
• 3/4 cup rinsed coffee grounds
• 12 dried and crushed eggshells

Instructions

1. Mix sand, clay loam and organic matter (compost) together in a container such as a wheelbarrow.

2. Add the Epsom salts, coffee grounds and eggshells in the amounts given above per cubic foot of soil mixture you mixed in step 1. Mix well.

3. Fill your flower pots, raised flower beds or just enhance your small garden plot.

Tips & Warnings

• Recycle those styrofoam peanuts by placing them at the bottom of your flower pots to both reduce the amount of soil needed for shallow rooted plants and to keep your pots from being too heavy.

• Add water absorbent gel or even a package of unflavored gelatin per 4 quarts of potting soil to help soil retain moisture and cut your watering efforts.