I'm setting up a raised garden bed and want to keep it simple! I've read that it's good to start with layers like cardboard, sticks, and then a mix of top soil, compost, and bed soil. My main confusion is about the difference between top soil and garden bed soil. Do I really need to add manure or compost? Is it possible to just use something labeled 'organic all-purpose garden soil'? Any suggestions would be super helpful! Thanks!
3 Answers
Great question! Here’s the deal—top soil is often just what's scraped off from land development and its quality can vary a lot. Garden bed soil, on the other hand, is typically a better blend and may contain slow-release fertilizers for that first growing year. Brands like Black Kow or Miracle Gro are usually solid. In terms of layering, you might not need to make it too complicated. Just a good compost layer on top of your soil can really boost your plants!
I totally get where you’re coming from! When I switched to raised beds, I found out there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. For the top 12 to 18 inches, you'll definitely want decent soil. I ended up mixing 50% top soil, 30% compost, and 20% peat moss to create my own blend, which worked wonders. If your area has dense clay, consider modifying your mix a bit. This way, your plants will have the best chance of thriving!
Yes! The quality of your soil really does make a huge difference. If you're already using raised beds, putting in some sticks at the bottom makes sense. Just focus on having a good quality soil mix in the top part where the roots grow. A fluffy mix using a standard formula or tweaking it based on what’s available locally will give you great results.
So I can use Black Kow on top and whatever else for the rest of the bed?