I'm a total newbie and I might have rushed things a bit. I just built an 8' x 4' x 11" raised bed and filled it with 20 cu. ft. bags of Espoma Organic Garden Soil for Vegetables and Flowers. Now I realize I probably should have gone with a raised bed blend instead. I still have a few inches of space left to fill and I'm trying to figure out how to correct this mistake. Any advice on what I should do to ensure I start with the right type of soil? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
There are plenty of ways to amend that soil! Just out of curiosity, how deep is your bed? Since it's 11 inches deep, most plants won't reach that deep, but certain ones like tomatoes or asparagus might. Keeping that in mind when selecting plants could be helpful!
The main difference between raised bed soil and regular garden soil is that raised bed mixes usually have better drainage and water retention. If your soil feels too compact, consider adding some peat moss, coco coir, or fine shredded leaf mulch to lighten it up. Topping it off with organic compost could also help boost microbial life and nutrients. Best of luck with your garden!
Honestly, you should be fine! If your raised bed sits directly on the ground with just bare dirt underneath, that helps a lot. Despite the landscaping fabric, topping off the last few inches with compost and mixing it in could still be beneficial. It’ll enhance the soil composition overall.