Muck... Melbourne or online ?

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 19th, 2013, 9:33 am

Does anyone know where I can source some muck...

alpineart · Post by **alpineart** » January 19th, 2013, 9:45 am

Hi aliass mate make your own . All you need is some materials like well rotted compost , spagnum moss , clay , peat moss . Its not the type of product you go out and buy . Most make their own basically a sticky muck stiff enough to adhere to any surface if building perimeter walls on slabs , i use clay and bonsai blend with added spagnum . If using for rock plantings just blend moss , peat and compost together with a bonsai mix to make a nice firm blend , squash it in you hand and it should hold together . Be careful with the amount of clay used as if it dries it it hard to get water to penetrate to enable you to retain moisture . For root over rock i dont use muck i simply place the roots over the rock wrap with string tight , then plant them deep into pots . This makes sure the roots actually grasp the rock and not grow over the muck making for an unstable tree on the rock . In 1 season depending on the species , they should be capable of being thrown like a hammer in the olympic games , if not allow another season in the pot .

Hope this helps . Cheers Alpine

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 19th, 2013, 10:39 am

Thanks Ian I have made some for a slab planting using air dry clay from a craft shop ,peat moss and bonsai mix . whenever I water the walls fall away wrong clay?

Pup · Post by **Pup** » January 19th, 2013, 11:45 am

G,day Eliass, I have used in the past a mix of Potting clay and pulverised Cow manure.
The method I use is to make the Clay into a slurry that you can stand a stick in so it stands up. Then add the pulverised cow manure till it becomes like putty,
I use Drinking straws for drainage. This can be stored in air tight containers for years, just add some water if it is dry, I still have some from 5 years ago.
Also the one time I will use baby's tears? or Corsican mint as a ground cover, to stop erosion.

Some Nurseries have on their benches a type of sheet moss, in most cases they will let you have it, if its a Bonsai Nursery they will sell it,I have used it for many years as it does last though summer.

Cheers Pup

shibui · Post by **shibui** » January 19th, 2013, 11:50 am

Might be the bonsai mix Eliass. It will break up the texture of the muck and let it wash away quicker. Moss will help to hold it together as well.
Muck is usually just clay and either sphagnum and/or peat and/or old cow manure. Pup's recipe is a good one.
'Merri Creek Mud' is used for cricket pitches and is the best clay I have seen for muck. The black clay soils through most of the north and west of Melbourne should be similar.

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 19th, 2013, 1:02 pm

Where can I buy clay as I don't have any places to dig in the backyard??

Pup · Post by **Pup** » January 19th, 2013, 1:15 pm

eliass wrote:Where can I buy clay as I don't have any places to dig in the backyard??

Try a ceramic store ! where they make clay models and vases.

Cheers Pup

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 19th, 2013, 2:07 pm

Thanks pup I will give it another try

Damian Bee · Post by **Damian Bee** » January 27th, 2013, 9:17 am

If you are in the east, west or north of Melbourne then you are likely to find clay mate. Save your $$$ for something else, get your spade and start digging down, it will be likely hard to dig at present due to dry weather but if you can get it out, crumble it up and mix with whatever you are adding in

Damian Bee · Post by **Damian Bee** » January 27th, 2013, 9:20 am

Pup wrote: Also the one time I will use baby's tears? or Corsican mint as a ground cover, to stop erosion.

Some Nurseries have on their benches a type of sheet moss, in most cases they will let you have it, if its a Bonsai Nursery they will sell it,I have used it for many years as it does last though summer.

Cheers Pup

Has anyone tried Isotoma fluviatilis or Pratia pedunculata?
Both are Australian natives

, they are however rhizomatous, this may be a problem for some?

AusBonsai