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New raised beds
Ladyharewood
Posts: 3
in Talkback
I have just had two raised beds made, do I need to line them and what type of soil should I fill them with? I am looking to grow mainly veg.
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Posts
i have just built one and filled it with peat free compost from aldi, I hope that was ok!
I didn't line it, it was just sat on mud anyway
Thank you
It depends. Are the raised beds over grass, or have you dug the sod out? If it's over grass, just put down overlapping layers of cardboard to kill off the grass and weeds. I usually cover the cardboard with layers of newspaper (which I wet, to keep from blowing away until I cover it). If you can find it, a layer of well rotted manure on top the newspaper. Cover that all something like John Innes 3, as it's far better than bags of 'top soil'.. but I think any sort of gardening compost would be suitable. You want something that is going to give you a good structure, but you'll be adding to it each year to constantly improve the soil. Depending upon what soil you get, you might consider adding the correct measure of Blood Fish and Bone meal prior to planting.
Personally, I advocate the lasagna method of raised bed gardening (give it a google if you're curious).. and no dig. But each to their own, and you'll soon discover what works best for you. I'm lazy, so I like it when I can just encourage nature to do what it's already been doing for the past billion years.. but just in my favor, so I can grow and eat what I want.
Mine are 1-2 ft deep on top of scrubby grass and flowers I didn't want, I didn't line it in any way and nothing has grown through since last November.
I have it as a nursery at the mo' with some bare root plants growing on, and notice that the top soil I filled it with is not "open" enough. So I'm going to add lots of compost and manure and hope for the best this year. Next year should be much better if I keep adding "goodies".