What is Engineered Soil?

Engineered Soil is a manufactured soil consisting of sand, silt, clay, and organic amendments. At Plaisteds, the following Garden Mixes are availble for your use, or we can custom blend a mix for your applicaiton:

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ROOFTOP GARDEN MIXES

Green roofs are part of the healthy city movement, absorbing noise pollution and creating a peaceful meditative environment with an aesthetic appeal on building rooftops. Plus, they’re helping to increase property values.

We blend 3 type of rooftop materials. Depths vary depending on what types of plant materials are going to be used and what the roof weight-load is designed to handle:

• Extensive mixes are generally used at a 3″ to 6″ depth
• Intensive mixes are generally 6″ to 12″ or more in depth
• Turf mixes are 6″ to 12″

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RAIN GARDEN PEAT MIXES

Excellent drainage properties—Meets MPCA Stormwater Manual Guidelines
A homogeneous blend of washed clean construction sand (70 to 90%) and sphagnum peat (10 to 30%). These mixes effectively collect water from previous and impervious surfaces while filtering out sediment and pollutants. Other benefits: Stores water for the short term to be used by plants and permits clean water to infiltrate the soil and subsoil slowly, thus recharging the groundwater. See our literature sheet

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RAIN GARDEN COMPOST MIXES

A homogeneous blend of washed clean construction sand (70 to 90%) and organic leaf compost (10-30%). These mixes effectively collect water from previous and impervious surfaces while filtering out sediment and pollutants. Other benefits: Stores water for the short term to be used by plants, and permits clean water to infiltrate the soil and subsoil slowly, thus recharging the groundwater.

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IRON-ENHANCED SAND

An innovation in stormwater runoff treatment. This mix of C-33 Concrete Sand and 5% Iron Filings captures an average 88% phosphate for at least 200 m of treated depth. It offers high pollutant removal rates, is good for nutrient impaired water, can be used as a retrofit for existing areas, and is suitable for cold climates. Plaisted Companies is the local producer of this mix. For information on how to use iron-enhanced sand, visit www.pca.state.mn.us.

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MN DOT SPECIALTY SOILS

These engineered soil specifications are designed for use in general roadway planting areas and landscape beds. We blend multiple components together with our Accubender™ to meet the requirements. Custom mixes are available in any ratio of materials needed.