Compost Soil Mix

I'm doing my soil mixing right in the compost heap this year.  I grow a lot of plants in containers, and like to start new plants with refreshed soil.  I take the tired soil both from the containers and the ground, and mix it with compost on the edge of the compost heap.  I'm looking for a three parts soil to one part compost mix.

That is one pot, ten gallons, of soil to the compost heap.  The contrast between the soil and the compost is stark.  As I add more dirt, and mix it thoroughly, I'll sneak up on the right mix ratio.

I use this Compost Soil Mix as the filler when planting large plants, and as the main soil in my potted plants.  The compost is composed of Live Oak, Maple, Pear, and Crepe Myrtle leave, and all the lawn clippings.  There are numerous "weeds" in my yard which all go into the compost heap as well.  I try to keep seeds out of the compost heap if I can.  I found a stalk of Burdock seeds in there which is not good, I've been pulling out Burdock plants for months.  So whenever you use natural compost you will have to pull out weeds that spring up afterwards, you can think of them as new compost...

 Dusty helps in this process.  When I dump an old pot of soil on to the heap she will dig through it looking for grub worms.  You might say Yuck, but this is what foraging animals do.  They dig up stuff and eat it.  These Grub Worms are all natural, organic, living viable food for a foraging animal.  They are probably the best thing in her diet.  I managed to get a video this time.

Now that's a good working dog...