Potted soil- Can I use the soil in my large pots again this year?

Carol Hoffman
by Carol Hoffman
Can I use the soil in my large pots again this year if I add some fertalizer?

  8 answers
  • Buy some new soil and mix it in at a 50 / 50 ratio. Then plant your plants and fertilize as needed.

  • 27524803 27524803 on May 04, 2018

    Change the soil this year... then in the fall after you harvest... fill the pot to the top with rotted manure and let set thru the winter... when you are ready to plant in the spring... mix it in....

  • Cindy Hagemann Cindy Hagemann on May 04, 2018

    I use mine over and over each year.

  • Liv Liv on May 04, 2018

    Potting soil is designed to be partially replaced, because the plants deplete some of the nutrients in the soil. Happy gardening!

  • Pat Pat on May 04, 2018

    I use the same pots each year but I do replace about 1/3 of the soil in the pots. it is cheaper to take out a third of the potting soil and replace it. I do not have good luck using fertilizer because I tend to burn my plants with it.


    Good luck with your gardening

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on May 04, 2018

    I mix new soil with old soil in equal amounts.

  • I also like to add some vermiculite to my old potting soil.

  • Susan Susan on May 04, 2018

    I have done that sometimes, but you need to make sure there are no grubs in the compost which may eat the roots of anything you plant - you can buy a mixture to pour into pots to kill grubs, which seems quite successful