coconut husk

[Palm crazy]

Someone gave me three large bails of this stuff and it is very dense and heavy, what can I do with it in the garden? Any suggestion? Will it keep the soil moist or will it dry out to much in summer? It's very wet here in winter so that is a concern also.

Does it go in the soil, or on top like a mulch, never seen anything like it here, we usual uses peat moss in this part of the country. Help! otherwise I'm going to get ride of it.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Palm crazy

[JungleGina]

Don't throw it away! You can use it to make peat-free potting soil. Peat takes thousands of years to form and is not sustainable because the bogs it comes from are being destroyed during harvesting. Scott Arboretum has switched to a coir-based potting soil. You can read the article here:

http://www.sustainable-gardening.com/inputs-tools/soil-fertilizers/peat-free-potting-soil

[Palm crazy]

Thanks for the link, I guess they would be good in my new palm bed next spring. Will have to do some more research on this stuff, thanks! Gina and yes we do need to protect our peat moss wetland, the kind I was referring to was the moss that grows on the trees here. Thanks! Roger

Edited September 1, 2010 by Palm crazy