Decomposed Granite

rlist

This could very well be considered a stupid question, but any help I can get is greatly appreciated...

Question: Is there a difference between decomposed granite and granite chips?

My gut feeling: Yes - by a couple hundred million years.

Reason behind the question: I would like to add trace amounts of decomposed granite to my soil mix that will leech micronutirents into the soil. I am having a difficult time finding any that does not range down to dust particle size and is total muck this time of year - hence, unsiftable. I have located a source for granite chips of consistent size out of Canada (as opposed to Cali where decomposed granite comes from), and they offer four (yet unknown) sizes up to 1/4". I don't think this is the same, and guess I need to wait a couple hundred million years before anything will leech out into the soil, but I hope some people out there with bigger brains than I have might have a real answer...

__________________
NW Oregon, Zone 8a
Check out my new blog here...
Both gold and muck come out of the same shaft...

Advertisement

AndyM

Google it. There's loads of sites. Thanks.

__________________
"The blimp Roy, the blimp."

Brent

Rich

Yes, you're right, the DG will give you better mineralization than the chips. Most DG comes as you describe, with all the dust and fines from the completely broken down granite as well as the chunks that we like to use. This is fine for pathways and other hardscape because it 'anchors' nicely. Rather than sift DG, I just wash it. It quickly removes the mud and fines. You can do this most efficiently over 1/4 inch hardware cloth or other screen, or simply using a 5 gallon bucket tilted while running the hose in the bottom of the DG. You can then grade the larger pieces or use it as is. I use it for bonsai ground cover, it is much more attractive than chips or pumice. It has a more natural look.

Brent
EvergreenGardenworks.com
see our blog at http://BonsaiNurseryman.typepad.com

Wineguy

I use DG and Sifted landscapers mix as my current soil mix. I just pour the DG into a five gal bucket, Lather rinse repeat, and then sift.


The landscapers mix is like mulch and soil together, I heard of it being used in bonsai soil. So far so good. This spring I'll be repotting, we'll see.

__________________
Never fix the Blame, only try to fix the problem....

rlist

Thanks all. I bougt a 5 gallon bag that was dry, sifted it, washed it and there you go. Not cheap with 90% waste, but for as much as I need it will be ok.

Thanks again.

__________________
NW Oregon, Zone 8a
Check out my new blog here...
Both gold and muck come out of the same shaft...

lordy611

Boondock

I buy "chicken grit" at the feed store. It's very inexpensive.

Attached Images

chicken_grit.jpg (65.4 KB, 67 views)

__________________
Washington Native Plant Society
USDA national plant database
Conifers.org

rockm

"chicken grit. It comes in 3 or 4 sizes, it says decomposed on the label I think, "

Crushed granite chicken grit is not decomposed granite. It is crushed granite straight out of a quarry, at least here on the East Coast. "Granni-Grit" is the name brand of the stuff that's carried by feed stores. Comes in several sizes. The two that bonsaiist use are "grower" and "starter," with grower being the coarsest and almost too big to use. Starter grit is better.

Neither needs to be sifted.

Bonsai Barry

When I went to a feed store that had grit, it was labeled something like, "Enhanced" but it didn't say what it was inhanced for, so I shyed away from buying it. Anyone know what additives are included in grit?

__________________
Bonsai Barry

"Our talent lies in our choices."