I've been planting my garden in the ground for a few years now, but my results have been pretty disappointing. This year, I decided to try out some raised garden beds with different compartments, but I'm concerned about the soil. I'm thinking of using regular top soil since it's more affordable—like $3 for a 40lb bag—but I'm not sure if it's good enough. Should I mix something with it to improve it?
3 Answers
The quality of top soil really matters! You'd want to avoid any that has lots of clay or sand in it. It’s also worth noting that what you need can vary greatly depending on where you live. Soil conditions can differ a lot between locations, so consider checking with local gardeners!
Yeah, you definitely want to add some organic matter to your top soil. Just make sure you're using high-quality, screened top soil and not some low-grade fill dirt filled with rocks or garbage. A good mix would be at least 50/50 with high-quality compost to give your plants a boost.
Where are you located, by the way? Soil needs can be really specific depending on your region, so what works for one person may not work for you.