I line the base of mine with water-permeable landscaping fabric - this prevents the soil being washed out of the bottom of the bed. I line the sides with a layer of heavy duty polythene to guard against any possible contamination of the soil by preservatives in the wood and also to help preserve the wood.
I fill mine with two-thirds topsoil and one third well rotted farmyard manure. I have found that using multi-purpose compost is not as successful as it breaks down after a couple of seasons.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you dovefromabove I will give that a go. I was definitely going to add farmyard manure. Can i make it slighlty cheaper by mixing some multi compost with the topsoil?
Does MPC work out cheaper volume for volume than topsoil? You can certainly add some, but you'll need to top it up again next year. That being said, I usually top up with manure in the autumn or spring (depending on what I'm going to grow) and fork it well in.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I dont think MPC is cheaper than top soil. I thought it might be. Ive gone with the three types. Lets hope Ive ordered enough! Im leaving london for a few days so hopefully the neighbours will hold my deliveries for me (yet to arrive)
I still haven't decided for definite where i'm putting it.
Posts
I line the base of mine with water-permeable landscaping fabric - this prevents the soil being washed out of the bottom of the bed. I line the sides with a layer of heavy duty polythene to guard against any possible contamination of the soil by preservatives in the wood and also to help preserve the wood.
I fill mine with two-thirds topsoil and one third well rotted farmyard manure. I have found that using multi-purpose compost is not as successful as it breaks down after a couple of seasons.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you dovefromabove I will give that a go. I was definitely going to add farmyard manure. Can i make it slighlty cheaper by mixing some multi compost with the topsoil?
Does MPC work out cheaper volume for volume than topsoil? You can certainly add some, but you'll need to top it up again next year. That being said, I usually top up with manure in the autumn or spring (depending on what I'm going to grow) and fork it well in.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I dont think MPC is cheaper than top soil. I thought it might be. Ive gone with the three types. Lets hope Ive ordered enough! Im leaving london for a few days so hopefully the neighbours will hold my deliveries for me (yet to arrive)
I still haven't decided for definite where i'm putting it.
Optimum site will have plenty of sun
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.