Gardening in England - Soil to fill a raised bed

Author

Soil to fill a raised bed

John Sharp

2005-08-24, 9:21 am

Hi folks
I am just completing a project to make some raised beds. I will need to put
soil in and plan to purchase sacks of soil, compost, peat and manure from a
local garden centre.

I would be grateful for any advice regarding what i should put into the
beds. Should i mix different bags of soil, peat manure together to set a
good foundation for planting next year? Is there a formula people can
recommed? or stick to a single type of compost?
Incidentally the local soil is clay based if that helps.
regards
John Sharp

Dwayne

2005-08-24, 3:21 pm

I use sand, compost, top soil, and peat moss, the amounts depend on how much
clay is in the top soil. You an also add potting soil, but I dont like to
add too much, because it allows the water to dry out too fast, in my
opinion.

Dwayne

"John Sharp" <john645354@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dehm9s$233$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
> Hi folks
> I am just completing a project to make some raised beds. I will need to
> put soil in and plan to purchase sacks of soil, compost, peat and manure
> from a local garden centre.
>
> I would be grateful for any advice regarding what i should put into the
> beds. Should i mix different bags of soil, peat manure together to set a
> good foundation for planting next year? Is there a formula people can
> recommed? or stick to a single type of compost?
> Incidentally the local soil is clay based if that helps.
> regards
> John Sharp
>
>
>

Bob Hobden

2005-08-24, 7:21 pm

"John Sharp" wrote
> I am just completing a project to make some raised beds. I will need to
> put soil in and plan to purchase sacks of soil, compost, peat and manure
> from a local garden centre.
>
> I would be grateful for any advice regarding what i should put into the
> beds. Should i mix different bags of soil, peat manure together to set a
> good foundation for planting next year? Is there a formula people can
> recommed? or stick to a single type of compost?
> Incidentally the local soil is clay based if that helps.
> regards

Normally one uses the soil from the paths around the bed to fill the bed,
the paths are then covered in gravel, bark chippings, paving slabs or
similar.
To this soil you add plenty of well rotted horse manure and/or compost and
then if it's clay soil add some sharp sand or grit to aid drainage.
You are aiming for a John Innes potting compost type soil with more
goodness.
--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

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