Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Square Foot Raised Gardens

Green Fingered MikeyGreen Fingered Mikey Posts: 211
in Garden design
Hi guys I am in a bit of a dilemma,today I will be putting my square foot raised garden beds together my dilemma is filling them as much as I wish I could fill them with just peat free compost my budget will not go that far,will it be ok to fill half with natural soil or should I just fill with peat free compost a bit at a time other the next few months till they are full thanks.
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,109

    I'd think that would be fine Michael. I made a lot of raised beds last year of varying height and size along a fence. I've used compost and a small amount of soil but, you're right, it's expensive doing it with all compost. Are you near a nursery? They will often sell spent compost at a lower rate. Probably not the right time of year though. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    I would not use bought potting compost for raised beds - it just goes thin and dusty too soon and doesn't retain moisture - I would use a mix of equal parts good soil, homemade compost and farmyard manure.  It will be fantastic. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,058

    My veggie plot is all raised beds filled with garden soil, some of which came from digging out the paths between them.  They get added garden compost as and when available. 

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Green Fingered MikeyGreen Fingered Mikey Posts: 211
    Thanks all ive built the frames so will be digging tomorrow, ive only just started my own compost so I can't use that yet I think I will go down the sieving soil road and add a few bags of peat free compost mixed in thanks again for replying.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    You could buy the Lidl cheapo compost, its only 2.00 a bag, mix with garden soil and chuck in a bit of bonemeal or chicken pellets.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Green Fingered MikeyGreen Fingered Mikey Posts: 211
    Same price at Aldi near me Lyn off tomorrow to buy a few bags to mix in with soil also hoping to get hold of some horse manure from a neighbour although I've not asked them yet image
  • Green Fingered MikeyGreen Fingered Mikey Posts: 211

    Thought i would put on a picture of my square foot raised garden beds i will update with new pictures as i go through the stages of completing them image

    image

     

  • Millie7Millie7 Posts: 1

    What height are your raised beds going to be? I'm just planning mine now?

  • Green Fingered MikeyGreen Fingered Mikey Posts: 211

    Planted my first plant into one of my finished raised beds yesterday.I planted my Sedum (Spectable) which was a cutting last year off a friend.

    image

     Millie7 sorry its took so long to answer your post i missed it,Not sure on the height but the boards i have used are standard decking boards.

  • SalinoSalino Posts: 1,609

    ..I wonder what you did with the old grass turves that were already there within the frames...? I would have turned them over and chopped them up.. they quickly rot down and make such good topsoil over time, and I would then not have so much to fill with compost or whatever else you use...

Sign In or Register to comment.