I put in a raised bed garden this past February. I've used a place in South Austin to get garden soil in the past, but that seemed too far to drive. I've driven past Bert's Dirt regularly for several years and called to check them out. Of all the places I checked, they were the most expensive but also the closest to my house. The gentlemen I spoke with on the phone convinced me his garden soil was a good product so I picked up a load. Months of frustration later, I'm sorry to have to write a bad review.
I've spent countless, frustrated hours working in the garden. Half of what I planted died or wouldn't grow. The other half performed so poorly I was convinced there was a pest or disease. The tomato plants curled up and stopped growing. The potatoes also curled up. The peppers don't look great, but look the best from what is alive, but they won't produce. Beans, onions, spinach and my herbs have all died or are close to death. The dirt seemed to have a lot more clay than I expected so I thought that might be the problem. I alternately thought I had over-watered or under-watered. It wasn't until I solicited the advice of a local, well known gardener and former nurseryman that I discovered the soil was contaminated with herbicides. He said that he has been aware of a problem with Bert's Dirts for some time.
I don't know what I'm going to do with that raised bed and worthless soil. Two and a half months later I'm frustrated with my loss of time, money and fresh vegetables. Usually you get what you pay for. That was certainly not the case here.
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