New to the Bog seen.

[dougfleer]

Well tomorrow i'm planning on digging a nice big 1 foot deep rectangle to create the bog.

I've picked the sunniest part of the back yard (probably 10 hours of sun).

I'm going to dig it, lay the plastic liner down, cut a few slits in the bottom for drainage. Then poor in 50:50 mix of peat moss and sand.

Did I miss anything or does anyone have suggestions for a bog newbie?

Oh ya, forgot to mention my location.

I live in Seffner, FL
www.city-data.com/city/Seffner-Florida.html

[ICPS-bob]

I suggest that the width be narrow enough that you can reach the center from both sides. Make sure the sand is not beach sand (calcium carbonate). I would put the holes in the plastic a few inches above the bottom.

[dougfleer]

admin said:

I suggest that the width be narrow enough that you can reach the center from both sides. Make sure the sand is not beach sand (calcium carbonate). I would put the holes in the plastic a few inches above the bottom.

Okay so NO beach sand. Is there any specific name I should look for?
And a few inches above the bottom i'm assuming you mean on the sides? Should I still do the bottom also?

[ICPS-bob]

Silica or quartz sand. The reason that I suggest putting the drainage holes above the bottom (not in the bottom) is that this will allow a "water table" that will provide water during dry periods.

My bogs have a slight slope and I put a few holes in the plastic about 4 inches from the top on the downhill side. This keeps the downside side wetter than the upper side.

[dougfleer]

admin said:

Silica or quartz sand. The reason that I suggest putting the drainage holes above the bottom (not in the bottom) is that this will allow a "water table" that will provide water during dry periods.

My bogs have a slight slope and I put a few holes in the plastic about 4 inches from the top on the downhill side. This keeps the downside side wetter than the upper side.

I see, very nice bog you have there bob.

Now i'm a little nervous about getting this right but this may sound like a stupid question.

How big do you suggest the holes to be?

[ICPS-bob]

The cuts do not need to be large or many. I think I put in four 2-inch long cuts in the plastic. It takes about an hour for my bog to drain after a big rain. BTW, I have trouble finding good coarse sand in my area, so I just used sphagnum peat with no sand. It has been working great for 7 years. Eventually, I should probably replace the old peat, but so far I do not see any problem affecting the plants.

[dougfleer]

admin said:

The cuts do not need to be large or many. I think I put in four 2-inch long cuts in the plastic. It takes about an hour for my bog to drain after a big rain. BTW, I have trouble finding good coarse sand in my area, so I just used sphagnum peat with no sand. It has been working great for 7 years. Eventually, I should probably replace the old peat, but so far I do not see any problem affecting the plants.

Could I possibly buy Peat Moss + Sand or Sphagnum Peat at HomeDepot or a similar home improvement store?

I just moved to this area and am still unfamiliar with what is where.

[Clint]

Sure you can buy all three there Just make sure it's not a brand of peat with added fertilizer. I like to buy my peat in bales.

[dougfleer]

I bought Spaghnum Peat moss. Ran a little short so i'm going to get more today. ;D

I have a question probably not related to Bogs, but more along the lines of watering. How do most of you purify your water?

Right now it's gonna shower so I have some buckets sitting outside under key spots. But if there is no rain, i'm . I'm trying to distill water with a tube running into a cup while i'm boiling water. Well, heh, you can probably predict how that's going.

Has anyone made a distiller type lid for a boiling pot? Maybe like a cover with a funnel + tube attached running into a bucket/pale?

[Clint]

I use a 100 GPD RO filter. I only use about 5 gallons per week.

You should invest in an RO filter and forget about trying to make a ghetto distiller

[dougfleer]

justlikeapill said:

I use a 100 GPD RO filter. I only use about 5 gallons per week.

You should invest in an RO filter and forget about trying to make a ghetto distiller

Haha ya, I was going to buy an RO filter but I don't have $150+ yet.

<<<Only 16

[ICPS-bob]

dougfleer said:

How do most of you purify your water?

Right now it's gonna shower so I have some buckets sitting outside under key spots. But if there is no rain, i'm .

I suggest simply getting some bigger buckets and catch the runoff from your roof. If you wait for few minutes after it starts raining before you collect water, most of the gunk accumulated on the roof will have washed off and the water will then be pure.

[dougfleer]

admin said:

dougfleer said:

How do most of you purify your water?

Right now it's gonna shower so I have some buckets sitting outside under key spots. But if there is no rain, i'm .

I suggest simply getting some bigger buckets and catch the runoff from your roof. If you wait for few minutes after it starts raining before you collect water, most of the gunk accumulated on the roof will have washed off and the water will then be pure.

I have buckets ready for action. Sad thing is. There is no action

No rain forecasted for the WHOLE upcoming week.

[Clint]

Well, some wal-marts have RO refilling stations and you bring your own water container like the kind that goes in a water cooler. And distilled water costs like... 60-80 cents per gallon so it's pretty cheap in the short-run.

[dougfleer]

justlikeapill said:

Well, some wal-marts have RO refilling stations and you bring your own water container like the kind that goes in a water cooler. And distilled water costs like... 60-80 cents per gallon so it's pretty cheap in the short-run.

Yes last night I bought 3 gallons of distilled water.

My mom is going to the store now so I asked her to pick me up alot more Gallons.

But i'm getting my check monday and am going to buy a very nice RO filter thing. Do you have any recommendations?