“I absolutely love growing veggies and herbs in containers on my sunny deck. But when it's time to clean up and store the pots for winter, I always face the same question—what do I do with all that…”
Citrus Tree
Citrus meyeri
I absolutely love growing veggies and herbs in containers on my sunny deck. But when it's time to clean up and store the pots for winter, I always face the same question—what do I do with all that spent potting soil? (You can read more about storing containers here.)
A lot of gardeners simply toss old potting soil in the trash or city compost bins, and I totally get that impulse. But over the years I've found several ways to put that old potting soil right back to work in your garden:
1. Use it to top-dress your existing flower and vegetable garden beds—it works like a charm
2. Spread it thinly over the lawn as a light topdressing
3. Dump it into newly built raised beds as a start to filling them (and check out"How to Care for the Soil in Raised Beds")
4. Add it to your compost bins and let it break down with the rest
If you keep a compost pile and you'd like to try mixing your own potting blend next year, here's a recipe I've used:"Homemade Potting Mix With Compost". It's really satisfying to make your own!
Fall is honestly one of the best times to build better garden soil—give the steps in"Ways to Improve Garden Soil in the Fall"a try. Your spring garden will thank you.
Wondering whether you can save and reuse your potting mix in next year's containers? Horticulture's sister publication, Garden Gate, offers some really helpful advice in the post"What Should I Do With Used Potting Mix?". I always check their tips before making that call!
