An horticultural blend is disclosed. The horticultural blend includes coal refuse and slag blended with at least a portion of the coal refuse. The coal refuse has a particle size, the particle size corresponding with all material in the coal refuse having a maximum dimension of less than about 2 inches and at least about 25% of the material in the coal refuse being capable of passing through a standard number 4 sieve. The horticultural blend has a pH within a range of about 3.5 and about 10 and the horticultural blend facilitates growth of vegetation when applied to a coal refuse pile at a thickness of less than about 2 feet.
