Waxed Dirt

[Macthediver]

I finally decided to take a minute and post the pic's of making dry dirt like was talked about in another post. I decide to use my wife's small green house and it worked really well. Best part was that because it was inside. I could walk away and just mess with it when I felt like as it was out of the weather. I didn't make a whole lot just got 15 gallons incase I want to try some again this fall.

First pic is just a shot of what the wife's little green house looks like. You can also see a couple bags of peat moss I punched holes in the bags and stashed in there to keep dry.

I put a 4X4 piece of OSB on the bench and spread some sifted dirt to dry.

Next I sprinkle some flake wax I've had stashed in the freezer.

I raked the wax in let it cook a few hours and raked in some more.

Can't really see it well but the dirt did change color to a bit darker and now sheds water and looks like this.

 
Mac

[andytrapper]

good idea there.
 
Andy

[wormbobskey]

That stuff is a gamesaver when the weather turns wet. I like to use a little peat moss in the bottom of the bed than a layer of waxed dirt, bed the trap and put another layer of waxed dirt over that and cover with native dirt to blend in the set. Last year we had sets that were still shedding water even after we pulled the sets. The peat moss isn't really needed, but it makes your waxed dirt last  little longer.