I'm looking to fill at least three raised garden beds, and I'm thinking buying soil in bulk would be more cost-effective than purchasing countless bags from stores like Home Depot. I've been gradually filling my beds with bagged soil for a couple of years now, and I've already checked out a couple of options - a local landscaping company and Soil3 seem to offer the best prices. I'm curious if anyone here has found other great sources or tips? I specifically want garden soil suitable for raised beds, not just topsoil or fill dirt.
3 Answers
When you're shopping for bulk soil, definitely compare prices in your area. You might also consider using materials from your yard like leaves or twigs, which could help with costs and boost microbial activity in your beds. I bought some bagged soil from Costco during a sale, and it worked out well for me!
Consider exploring hugelkulture! You can fill the bottom of your beds with logs and sticks, which are often available for free from local arborists. It was definitely worth it for me to hire someone to shovel the soil, as delivery usually just meant dumping it in a pile. I was too worn out to move all that soil into my beds myself.
It varies a lot depending on your location, but besides landscape suppliers, large nurseries that grow their own plants often sell bulk soil too. To give you an idea, the best bulk soil place near me offers a great raised bed mix for about $36 per cubic yard. Buying in bulk gives you more volume for your money than buying numerous bags from a store - and that bulk soil is generally of better quality. Just make sure to check the place out in person to ensure they have fresh materials that haven’t been mixed with junk. Sometimes, teaming up with neighbors for a delivery can save you some cash too!
Wow, I wish I could find bulk soil for $36/cu yd! The best deal I've found is $69/cu yd for a mix that's mostly compost, which is still better than Home Depot.
I've heard of hugelkulture! It’s a fantastic way to utilize what you have and maximize your space.