How to revive old potting soil

Do you have old potting soil left over from last season? 🌱
Before you throw it out, consider a more sustainable approach: reusing and revitalizing your old soil. Through a simple process of removing debris, adding organic matter like compost, and incorporating slow-release fertilizers, you can restore the essential nutrients your soil needs for healthy plant growth.

This method not only promotes healthier plants by improving soil structure and fertility, but it’s also a smart financial move. By refreshing your existing soil, you reduce the need for constantly purchasing new potting mix, leading to significant savings over time—especially for larger gardens.

Learn how to maximize the life of your soil while maintaining a thriving garden ecosystem.



Read the full written guide here: https://dinasgarden.com/how-to-reuse-old-potting-soil-step-by-step-guide/

I have to ask: why bother removing all the roots? Isn't it just more organic matter for the compost microbes to break down?

Also why add fertilizer now? I think it would be better served adding to the top of the soil after planting, otherwise a lot will be washed out.

I've reused potting mix for many years, for most things adding a bit of ash and a shot of urine, mix up, let sit a few days and it's good to go.  The only thing is if there is any danger of disease buildup of any sort....so plants that die mysterious deaths, or when I'm preparing mix for rare valuable seeds etc. then the soil gets a day in a closed metal container in the solar cooker, or else a drench with boiling water in desperate haste, before adding the amendments.

I agree it's better to reuse it than landfill it.

But that's not news around here, it's SOP. We have 10 years' worth in a pile that keeps growing. Every spring I cut out the coarse stems and leave the fine rootlets in place. I then mix in lots of fine compost and a little biochar, and mix vigorously (with a Mantis tiller). Dear Wife then uses it for all of our potted annuals, and they do fine.

Since all of my gardening is in pots/containers I just rotate what I'm growing, change it up so the soil gets various types of plants growing in it, compost, organic fertilizer twice a year in the pots.  No need for any of that soil to go to waste unless I ended up with some sort of insanely dangerous toxin in there somehow.

Here it all goes in the compost pile, then eventually into garden beds. Or I keep a little pile handy in the garden to sprinkle as a fine moisture-retaining layer whenever I sow something like carrots.