It will be a lot more economical to buy bulk bags. I needed a lot of topsoil for my lawn and give the distance bought a wheelbarrow, total was still cheaper than buying small bags and also easier to handle. The other alternative is to buy 80L bags from local soil/compost merchants, fortunately I have a local one and prices much cheaper than GC while quality is much better too. I did buy some JI no 3 and not happy with quality (some others on forum have mentioned this too) Jack's magic was much better than JO no 3.
You also need to consider drainage in your mix but best to leave mix ratio to others who have more experience with planters than I.
Drainage in itself shouldn't be a problem as it's an open at the bottom type of planter.
Is Jacks a soil/loam-based one? I can't find a Jack's Magic product that doesn't describe it as just 'compost' or 'for pricking out seeds/potting on' (not what I need I don't think) and I can't find anything that's coming up specifically as 'Jack's Magic No. 3' - any ideas where you can buy this specific product as I just can't seem to track it down.
I can't do a bulk delivery unfortunately - wish I could. I hear you on the wheelbarrow idea but there's then a set of steps and I'm just not able to haul a wheelbarrow up three steps to then start unloading it into the planter - it's just not feasible. I would struggle with 80l bags as well to be honest so I'm a bit stuck on that.
The only other option is to see if my gardening fella can order some extra topsoil when he's delivering what he needs for the re-turfing of the lawn... could just be chucked into the planter there and then potentially.
Then would I also need something else in the mix or is topsoil sufficiently John Innes No.3-like on its own? I do want my plants to really get going soon as they're put in.
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Drainage in itself shouldn't be a problem as it's an open at the bottom type of planter.
Is Jacks a soil/loam-based one? I can't find a Jack's Magic product that doesn't describe it as just 'compost' or 'for pricking out seeds/potting on' (not what I need I don't think) and I can't find anything that's coming up specifically as 'Jack's Magic No. 3' - any ideas where you can buy this specific product as I just can't seem to track it down.
I can't do a bulk delivery unfortunately - wish I could. I hear you on the wheelbarrow idea but there's then a set of steps and I'm just not able to haul a wheelbarrow up three steps to then start unloading it into the planter - it's just not feasible. I would struggle with 80l bags as well to be honest so I'm a bit stuck on that.
The only other option is to see if my gardening fella can order some extra topsoil when he's delivering what he needs for the re-turfing of the lawn... could just be chucked into the planter there and then potentially.
Then would I also need something else in the mix or is topsoil sufficiently John Innes No.3-like on its own? I do want my plants to really get going soon as they're put in.