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:
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″
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
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.
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.
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.
Bringing GREEN to the Urban Landscape with Load-bearing Soil
The 5-state area’s licensed supplier of CU-Structural Soil®
Developed by Cornell University, this patented soil blend:
- Prevents sidewalk heaving
- Increases rooting volume under pavement—thus tree longevity
- Excellent for storm-water capture
- 35,000 tons of our CU-Structural Soil was utilized