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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 16:45:32

Title: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 16:45:32
Anyone with thought good or bad????
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: saddad on January 04, 2007, 16:53:45
Always looks fine and friable to me... probably low on earthworms though!
::)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: supersprout on January 04, 2007, 16:58:19
The chap who helped my Mum in the garden used it in his potting compost :)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 17:28:59
Thanks Saddad - never thought about the earth worms!!!
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: manicscousers on January 04, 2007, 17:54:53
we were told it's very good  :)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: tim on January 04, 2007, 18:01:18
Only as good as the location it comes from. But can't be bad??

And, as said, ready to use!!
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Hyacinth on January 04, 2007, 18:04:07
Was it on Monty Don's 'druggies' programme (sorry, don't remember the name) or another, where someone was barrowing in the molehill spoil to be used in the polytunnel? Know I've seen it somewhere quite recently... :-\
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 04, 2007, 18:17:27
It's supposed to be really good stuff to make compost with, as long as you can find it. Moles are pretty fussy about where they live. Growing up in Oxford, I used to see them in specific small areas near the rivers, and nowhere else. Last time I was there, they were still in the same spot in the University Parks. I never saw one where I lived in Cornwall, the moorland soil was too acid to get many worms except where gardeners had worked on it..
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 18:21:25
We seem to have loads on Deeside Industry Site and on the verges on the top of the Wirral - will have to but spade and containers in car and continue to collect.  Both site have a sandy soil but garden and lottie have clay mainly.
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: tim on January 04, 2007, 18:26:22
Try the A424!!
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 18:36:22
Is that Teford way?  I only drive around the North West with work and the amounts that is available they should keep me busy. 



Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: manicscousers on January 04, 2007, 18:46:53
from what I can remember, Skelmersdale roundabouts are good, just nowhere to park  :-\
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: ACE on January 04, 2007, 18:48:24
We used to us it on the goal areas on football pitches as they got very worn out.

No stones to hurt the players and the grass seed seem to take straight away, they could play on the pitch within 3 weeks, don't worry footballers we had enough pitches to rotate over a month.
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 18:50:34
Might be tempted to try selling it onto LFC or EFC !!

Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 04, 2007, 18:54:10
Quote from: manicscousers on January 04, 2007, 18:46:53
from what I can remember, Skelmersdale roundabouts are good, just nowhere to park  :-\

I tend to get lost so easy around there at the best of times too many round abouts all looking the same !
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: manicscousers on January 04, 2007, 18:59:17
i know what you mean, we have rellies there and go a different way every time  :)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: kt. on January 04, 2007, 22:18:07
As previously stated - the soil is as good as its location. On a recent nature program - narrator claimed the holes were where the moles stored their food. Not heard this before though. So could be full of anything.....
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Froglegs on January 05, 2007, 12:48:45
Quote from: supersprout on January 04, 2007, 16:58:19
The chap who helped my Mum in the garden used it in his potting compost :)
[/qu
ote]
Would it not be full of weed seeds ???
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 05, 2007, 18:30:33
Is there anyway I can rid them before I use - or will I have to wait and see what comes up.  The ground I get it from is grass only.


:) :) :) :) ???
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: supersprout on January 06, 2007, 02:56:45
Quote from: froglegs on January 05, 2007, 12:48:45
Would it not be full of weed seeds ???

No answer to this - from age 12-14 I just watched and marvelled, didn't have the gumption to ask sensible questions :-[ I guess they might have freshly disturbed weed seeds in, just like other topsoil?

You can sterilise small quantities of soil for seed compost in the microwave :o ::) try with both in small quantities and adjust the plan as you go?
Love your avatar and sound effects BB (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/angelic006.gif)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Froglegs on January 06, 2007, 09:27:58
Put a mole hill in the microwave...i don't think so OH would kill me ::) ;D
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 06, 2007, 10:43:31
Quote from: supersprout on January 06, 2007, 02:56:45
Quote from: froglegs on January 05, 2007, 12:48:45
Would it not be full of weed seeds ???


You can sterilise small quantities of soil for seed compost in the microwave :o ::) try with both in small quantities and adjust the plan as you go?
Love your avatar and sound effects BB (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/angelic006.gif)

Will try some after Sunday Lunch !! and keep you posted!!! 8)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 06, 2007, 15:53:46
I used to put soil in the oven. It makes a bit of a smell but you could do it with the door shut and the air extractor on, after everyone else has gone to bed.
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: telboy on January 06, 2007, 17:22:34
BB,
Moles have two sorts of runs. The shallow 'feeding' runs probably produce the best soil (dependant on soil quality of course).
Likewise for the deep runs, if the top soil is reasonably deep.
Determining one from 'tother requires a bit of poking about!
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Froglegs on January 06, 2007, 21:54:06
Dint think i will bother with mole hills,seems a lot a trouble running around looking for them ,then having to pop them in the microwave think ill stick to the stuff ya get in the shop. :)
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 07, 2007, 14:27:10
Quote from: telboy on January 06, 2007, 17:22:34
BB,
Moles have two sorts of runs. The shallow 'feeding' runs probably produce the best soil (dependant on soil quality of course).

Must say the soil if very good fine with some sand which is completely opposite of the normal soil here on the Wirral - it is only 1/2 mile away where they made bricks from the clay !!

Will try to micro wave a bit and see how it is for potting on.
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Columbus on January 07, 2007, 16:42:52
Hi all,

When the moles come up in the middle of my mulched fruit cage which is almost weed-free the earth pile doesn`t start a noticable weed problem.
As already mentioned, I`m sure that Monty Don says he uses mole hill soil in his potting compost. Our whole site has moles, some people don`t like them but I don`t mind. I should start colleting the soil, I think some others do.

Col
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: Blue Bird on January 07, 2007, 17:58:51
Has Monty D got a web site I could ask him directly  ??? ???
Title: Re: Soil from Mole Hills
Post by: telboy on January 07, 2007, 21:55:00
BB,
10 posts!
Aren't we good enough?